María del Carmen Abascal, widely known as Maricarmen, died suddenly at 87, just two weeks after being evicted from her sixth‑floor apartment on Sept. 23.

Her eviction sparked a protest camp at Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, where roughly 1,000 demonstrators have been staying for two weeks to demand action on the housing crisis.

Observers say her death will reinvigorate the movement and further polarise Spain ahead of the national election on Nov. 29, a contest in which housing policy is expected to dominate the debate.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez quickly sent condolences, pushed emergency measures to protect tenants, and announced a snap election to try to resolve the growing political tension.

According to the real‑estate website Idealista, the average rent in Spain has almost doubled over the past ten years, intensifying the housing‑affordability crisis.