Woman, 87, dies after being carried from home of 70 years on stretcher during eviction in Spain

close Video Pro-migrant socialism brings thousands to Spain Fox News contributor Jason Chaffetz discusses the Democratic Socialists of America platform and draws parallels between its policies and Spain's ongoing migration crisis. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Hören Sie sich diesen Artikel an 2 Min The death of an 87-year-old woman who was evicted from her longtime home has intensified a political crisis in Spain, where nationwide protests over soaring housing costs have helped force an early election. María del Carmen Abascal, known as "Maricarmen," died Wednesday after being hospitalized following her eviction from a Madrid apartment where she had lived for seven decades, according to The Associated Press. Her death came just days after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called a snap election for Nov. 29 after his government's failure to pass emergency housing measures through Parliament. The controversy has put renewed pressure on Sánchez's Socialist Party as Spain grapples with widespread frustration over rising rents and housing affordability. SPANISH OPPOSITION LEADER CALLS PRIME MINISTER A ‘TRAITOR’ OVER Ceuta migrant crisis People rally in downtown Madrid, Spain, to honor the memory of Maria del Carmen Abascal, 87, whose eviction from her home sparked nationwide protests Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) At the center of the uproar was Abascal's Sept. 23 eviction, which drew national attention after images showed the elderly woman, who used a wheelchair, being carried from her apartment on a stretcher. Police had cordoned off the street and removed demonstrators who attempted to stop the eviction. The images sparked demonstrations in Madrid and other Spanish cities, turning Abascal into a symbol of the country's housing crisis. The real estate company responsible for her eviction had sought to lease the apartment at a substantially higher price, according to the AP. ANGRY LOCALS BLOCK FAMOUS BEACH AS MASS TOURISM PROTESTS ESCALATE AT VACATION HOT SPOT A view of the door of the home from which Maria del Carmen Abascal, 87, was evicted, sparking nationwide protests, with a sign reading "Rest in peace, Maricarmen," in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026 (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Facing mounting public pressure, the company eventually agreed to allow Abascal to return to her home. She died before she could move back. After news of her death, demonstrators gathered outside Spain's Parliament and in Madrid's Puerta del Sol square, where some observed a minute of silence. Protesters also chanted, "Maricarmen lives, the fight goes on!" TENS OF THOUSANDS FLOOD STREETS TO PROTEST Spain BORDER CRISIS A woman places flowers in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, near the entrance to the building where Maria del Carmen Abascal, 87, was evicted from her home, sparking nationwide protests. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) "All my love to Maricarmen's family and loved ones," he wrote. "A hug as well to all of us who feel this loss as our own today. Rest in peace." Conservative opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo also expressed condolences and urged political leaders not to use the woman's death for political gain. "No campaign, no party, no use for political advantage," he wrote. "When faced with the death of a person, we must only show respect." Abascal's eviction and death have become a rallying point for housing activists demanding changes to Spain's rental policies as the country prepares for its November election. Brittany Miller is a Fox News Digital breaking news writer and former Independent reporter who graduated from Syracuse University in 2023.