Spain: Anger and protest after the death of evicted Maricarmen Abascal

"Murderer! Murderer!”

Anger and sadness in Madrid after the death of Maricarmen Abascal. The fate of the 87-year-old sparked mass protests in Spain.

Demonstrators:

»She didn't just die like that. She was killed. The state is responsible for this.”

Demonstrators:

»She died of a broken heart. You killed her with a broken heart.”

When her apartment was evicted, the pensioner was taken out of her apartment on a stretcher. An investor had previously increased the rent to 2,650 euros - almost four times as much as before. After the eviction, Maricarmen was taken to a hospital, where she died on Wednesday.

Maricarmen Abascal, pensioner:

»I am 87 years old. I live alone, have no family and have lived in this house for 70 years.

This government must understand that people have a right to a home and that forced evictions are not allowed just so vulture funds can enrich themselves without having to work for it.

In response to the protests, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wanted to push his plan to address the housing crisis through parliament, but he failed to get a majority. He then announced new elections for the end of November.

Maricarmen had sent a message from the hospital to the demonstrators in the protest camps

Maricarmen Abascal, pensioner:

»I would like to be with you, I would like to camp and fight with you, but I don't have that opportunity. So from here I ask you to be courageous. Fight to defend what is yours.”

There will be a general strike in Spain on November 11th. The debate about affordable housing will probably continue.