Some 20,000 people took part in a march through central Madrid on Thursday evening in memory of Marí del Carmen Abascal, the 87-year-old woman who died in hospital on Wednesday night. The march, announced by the Madrid Tenants' Union for Wednesday at 8pm, went from the protest camp on Puerta de Sol to Abascal's flat.
Abascal had lived in her flat in Madrid for seven decades. The flat was purchased by an investment firm which sought to increase her rent by 230 per cent. Abascal had rejected three eviction attempts before the investment firm managed to force her out. She was evicted from the flat two weeks before her death.
Her eviction triggered mass protests over the housing crisis in Spain. Abascal became the face of the crisis, and her eviction set off waves of demonstrations across Spain, leading to a proposal by the socialist government for emergency measures for a fairer rental market, which were rejected by the right and the far right on Wednesday. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Wednesday evening that he would hold general elections on 23 November.
Sánchez expressed his condolences to the family and friends of Abascal on Wednesday evening. The leader of the conservative People's Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, also expressed his condolences, but the following day accused the government of manipulating the emotions of the Spanish people by focusing on one eviction. PP politicians joined with the far right on Thursday to block attempts to hold a minute's silence for Maricarmen in the Madrid regional parliament and the Spanish Senate.
People were visiting a small memorial on the pavement opposite the building where she lived. Some had come to light candles or leave flowers, while others left handwritten messages such as 'You made history, Maricarmen' and 'Thank you for changing Spain'. 59-year-old Miguel added a red rose to the memorial. 41-year-old Sara came with her young son and a banner that read: 'Maricarmen, we will fight for you'. 34-year-old Jaime said that Maricarmen had become a symbol of the fight for decent housing. So far, 44 people a day have been forced to leave their homes.
