Maricarmen, 87, Face of Spain's Housing Crisis, Dies in Madrid

María del Carmen Abascal, known as Maricarmen, died Oct. 7, 2026 at Madrid's Hospital Gregorio Marañón, the renters' union Sindicato de Inquilinas confirmed. The 87-year-old had lived in the same Madrid apartment since 1955 before eviction, when police broke down her door to remove her. Her case came to stand for Spain's wider housing crisis.