María del Carmen Abascal had spent most of her life quietly living in the apartment her family rented decades before in downtown Madrid. That was until her fight to avoid eviction transformed the 87-year-old into a symbol for millions of Spaniards who struggle to pay for housing.
Abascal, known widely as Maricarmen, died suddenly on Wednesday two weeks after she was evicted. Her death is set to reinvigorate the protest movement and further polarize Spain ahead of a national election next month when the housing issue will be central.
