The protest occurred in the Retiro district of Madrid. Abascal had lived in the apartment since 1956 and became involved in a long legal battle with the property owner over her right to remain in the home. Supporters held signs reading “Maricarmen vs the Vultures” and “Not one more Maricarmen.”
The eviction sparked demonstrations in cities across Spain, including Granada, Logroño and Zaragoza. Tenant unions announced protests in 16 cities following the eviction. Abascal had spoken publicly about the rising cost of housing and the difficulty many people face trying to afford rent. She argued that housing had increasingly become a way to make money rather than simply a place to live. She also said housing should be regulated and treated as a basic right.
The situation has drawn attention to the housing crisis in Madrid. Protests have grown into broader calls for better social protections and more affordable housing.
Abascal had lived in the apartment for 71 years. Her family had an old rent-controlled lease. A legal dispute developed over whether Abascal could continue under that agreement after previous transfers of the lease within her family.
The owner had sought a much higher monthly rent for the apartment. Abascal had been paying about 500 euros a month. One proposal would have increased the rent to 2,650 euros a month. Abascal's pension was not enough to cover such a payment.
Her eviction had been postponed several times before the final attempt on September 23. The case also drew international attention. A United Nations committee had requested that Spain suspend the eviction or ensure that Abascal had access to adequate alternative housing.
Hundreds of supporters gathered outside her building as authorities carried out the eviction. Abascal was eventually taken from the building on a stretcher and transported by ambulance to Gregorio Marañón hospital.
The eviction quickly became a rallying point for housing activists. Tenant organizations announced demonstrations across Spain. In Madrid, about 10,000 people attended a later housing protest, according to figures from the Spanish government's delegation in Madrid.
The case has also produced disagreement among different levels of government over responsibility for finding Abascal a place to live. Madrid officials offered her an emergency place in a residence, but she declined it and temporarily went to stay with a relative.
The dispute did not end with her removal from the apartment. Madrid city officials announced that they would mediate between Abascal's representatives and Urbagestión, the company that owns the property, in an effort to find a housing solution.
The eviction has become a symbol of larger struggles over housing rights in Spain’s urban centers.