Pensioner Maricarmen dies after forced eviction in Spain

Maricarmen Abascal is dead. "We regret to announce that Maricarmen died today," said the tenants' association in Spain.

The pensioner became internationally known because of the forced eviction from her apartment in Madrid. The 87-year-old was taken from her apartment in Madrid on a stretcher. According to the tenants' association, an investor had previously increased the rental price by 275 percent to 2,650 euros. Maricarmen had lived in the apartment for more than 70 years.

After the eviction, Maricarmen was hospitalized due to exhaustion. A few days ago there was an agreement and she returned to her apartment. The tenants' association explained that this solution came too late. "A completely avoidable situation after a torturous process."

Nationwide protests

The forced eviction led to nationwide protests. Their fate demonstrated in a particularly drastic way the extent of the housing shortage and rent explosion in Spain. “We are all Maricarmen,” read posters at the demonstrations.