The death of María del Carmen Abascal has placed Spain’s housing crisis at the centre of a rapidly approaching election campaign. The 87-year-old died on Wednesday night, about two weeks after being evicted from the Madrid flat where she had lived for much of her life.
Her case had already prompted demonstrations and a protest camp in central Madrid. According to reporting by the Guardian, Abascal became a prominent symbol of wider concerns about access to secure and affordable housing.
A parliamentary setback
Spain’s socialist-led government proposed emergency measures intended to make housing more accessible and strengthen protections. Rightwing and far-right parties defeated the proposals in congress last week.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez then called a snap general election for the end of November. Housing is now likely to be a major test of whether his government can persuade voters that it offers a credible response to insecurity in the rental and property markets.