Politics · Spain · 3 days ago
Thousands march in Madrid to honour Maricarmen after her death
Maricarmen Abascal, 87, died in a Madrid hospital on Wednesday, two weeks after she was evicted from the home where she had lived for more than 70 years.
She had been due to sign a new rental contract on Thursday and return to the property.
Instead, thousands of people marched from Puerta del Sol to her former home on Calle Alcalde Sainz de Baranda.
The march honoured her and protested against evictions and housing insecurity.
The Spanish government’s Madrid delegation put the crowd at 20,000.
The eviction had sparked protests over the right to housing, and protesters also raised the case of another woman who recently died after losing her home.
At Maricarmen’s street, demonstrators held up phone lights, observed a minute of silence and vowed to keep fighting.
An estimated 20,000 people marched through Madrid to honor Maricarmen Abascal, who died aged 87 after being evicted from her home.
The march began at Puerta del Sol and ended at the building where she had lived for more than seven decades.
Abascal had been due to sign a rental contract on the day of the march that would have allowed her to return home.
She died at Hospital Gregorio Marañón after being admitted following her eviction on September 23.
The march combined mourning with protests against evictions and calls for the right to housing.
- Who
- About 20,000 marchers, including activists from the Tenants’ Union, honored Maricarmen Abascal.
- What
- They held a march and tribute after Abascal died following her eviction.
- When
- Thursday, October 8, 2026. Abascal died the previous day.
- Where
- Central Madrid, from Puerta del Sol to her former home at 46 Calle Alcalde Sainz de Baranda.
- Why
- Abascal’s eviction and death prompted a tribute and renewed protests over housing and evictions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Seguiremos luchando por ti. Te quiere, tu sindicato
No estamos todos, falta Maricarmen. No permitimos ni un desahucio más
Rentistas culpables, Gobierno responsable
Abascal was evicted from the home where she had lived for more than seven decades.
Abascal died aged 87 at Hospital Gregorio Marañón, and a vigil began at Puerta del Sol.
About 1,000 people marched from the vigil toward the Congress of Deputies, according to La Vanguardia.
The main march began at Puerta del Sol and headed toward Abascal’s former home.
Abascal had been due to sign a rental contract that would have allowed her to return home.
- Age
- 87
- Crowd estimate
- 20,000 people, according to the Madrid Government Delegation
- Eviction date
- September 23
- Starting point
- Puerta del Sol, Madrid
- Destination
- 46 Calle Alcalde Sainz de Baranda, Madrid
- Hospital
- Hospital Gregorio Marañón
Sources
Related news
Frente Amplio and Podemos face a decision on joining forces for elections
Voters can check their registration and polling station for Spain’s 29 November election
Spain’s king and queen to visit Ceuta and Melilla amid migrant crisis
PNV seeks to avoid political blocs as EH Bildu enters election with momentum
Orriols' party will not contest Spain's Nov. 29 election
Illa presses Spain’s government to advance Catalonia power grid plan
AI-made videos fuel distrust in Spain’s mail voting
Spain plans minimum-wage increase ahead of elections
Opinion: Spain’s housing crisis reflects a shortage of public homes
Mertxe Aizpurua will not run again for EH Bildu in November election
Madrid candidacy dispute stalls Spain’s left-wing coalition talks
