The 87-year-old woman whose eviction from her long-time Madrid home sparked nationwide protests across Spain and unleashed a political crisis, has died in hospital.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez used social media to offer his condolences after the death of María del Carmen Abascal.

Known widely as “Maricarmen”, she had become a symbol for renters struggling with Spain’s housing affordability crisis.

“All my love to Maricarmen’s family and loved ones,” Sánchez said in a post on X. “A hug as well to all of us who feel this loss as our own today. Rest in peace.”

Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez also expressed condolences, writing on X: “I deeply lament the death of Maricarmen. My condolences for those who accompanied her and fought by her side until the end.”

The emotions ran into anger on the street among the protesters gathered near Spain’s Parliament, who chanted “Maricarmen lives, the fight goes on!”.

Maricarmen’s lawyer, Beatriz Duro, did not disclose the cause of death when she confirmed it to Cadena Ser radio. Duro said she and the activists were all devastated.

“Maricarmen’s case, which captured media attention and travelled around the world, leaves us the image of the shameful violence of these types of evictions and the impact they can have on people’s health,” Duro said.

Spaniards increasingly frustrated by housing costs periodically march in major cities demanding action from lawmakers. But a new wave of indignation has swept Spain since September 23 when Maricarmen, who used a wheelchair, was carried on a stretcher from her apartment after police cordoned off the street and removed protesters.

She was taken to a hospital because of her fragile health.

Televised images of the eviction prompted thousands of people to protest in Madrid and other cities across the country.

Maricarmen had been expected to return home after leaving the hospital. The real estate company that evicted her to it could re-rent her home at a much higher price eventually caved in under immense public pressure and agreed to let her return to the apartment.

“Although a historic agreement was reached that would have allowed her to return home, this solution came too late,” the Madrid Tenant’s Union said on Wednesday (local time). “It was an entirely avoidable situation following a harrowing ordeal.”

Protesters camped in Madrid’s iconic Puerta del Sol square held a minute of silence after learning of Maricarmen’s death.

Her plight galvanised a social movement, prompted Spain’s unions to announce a general strike next month and intensified pressure on political leaders.

Sánchez called an early election on Monday after his government failed last week to push emergency housing measures through parliament. He hopes the issue will reinvigorate his Socialist Party and help him form a new government after the November 29 election.

-AAP