Story perspectives

Death After Madrid Eviction Spurs Nationwide Strike on November 11

By Drooid · Oct 8, 2026, 6:37 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Maricarmen Abascal, 87, died after being evicted from her Madrid home.
She was evicted on 23 September when rent jumped from €500 to €2,650.
Police and social workers removed her on a stretcher, hospitalising her with exhaustion.
Thousands camped at Puerta del Sol, chanting “the fight will continue” after her death.
UGT and CCOO announced a nationwide general strike for 11 November.

History

Historical Context

The 2008 crisis burst Spain’s housing bubble, which had €651 billion of mortgage debt and left 28 % of new homes vacant by late 2008. By 2012 the Bank of Spain recorded 1.5 million defaults and the Platform for People Affected by Mortgages (PAH) staged hundreds of protests, pushing the Spanish government and the European Stability Mechanism’s €100 billion rescue plan toward tenancy-law reforms.

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Story summary

Maricarmen Abascal, 87, died after being evicted from her Madrid home.
She was evicted on 23 September when rent jumped from €500 to €2,650.
Police and social workers removed her on a stretcher, hospitalising her with exhaustion.
Thousands camped at Puerta del Sol, chanting “the fight will continue” after her death.
UGT and CCOO announced a nationwide general strike for 11 November.

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