Tragic death of evicted pensioner Maricarmen
Two weeks after her eviction from the Madrid home she had lived in for seven decades, 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal has died. Her eviction sparked nationwide protests against the housing crisis in Spain. A general strike has been called for 11 November to protest the problem. The media examine the symbolic power of Maricarmen's death.
Shameful unscrupulousness
El Periódico de Catalunya points to a moral failure on the part of the state and society:
“The emotional impact of the death of Maricarmen Abascal extends far beyond the political sphere; it stirs the conscience in the face of the realisation that a major collective failure caused this death, and it is changing all the parameters in the run-up to the elections. ... When a system falls into the hands of financial entities that are essentially devoid of ethics, it tends to degenerate. ... It is a collective affront that, with or without appropriate legislation, the EU's fourth-largest economy tolerates cases such as this. The global media coverage highlights the extent to which the incident is humanly unacceptable and politically reprehensible.”
This must not be repeated
Naftemporiki hopes that the massive reaction Maricarmen's death has triggered will prevent any further tragedies like this one:
“The question is, what can be changed in time for the next person to find themselves in her situation? What safety measures are necessary, who will take responsibility, and how quickly will a solution be found when a person has no time to wait? 'Fight, keep fighting for what is rightfully yours,' she said. Maricarmen did not return to her home. If the mobilisation she sparked protects others, her final journey will have made a difference. She herself, however, deserved to experience her own return.”
Obscene exploitation of a tragedy
El Mundo criticises the governing parties:
“The death of Maricarmen Abascal has understandably caused a major public outcry which the government and its coalition partners have no right to exploit. ... No cause, however noble – and the situation on the housing market is certainly that – can justify the obscene exploitation of this tragic fate for political gain in the run-up to an election. ... The government has failed in this area, and that makes PSOE and the left's exploitation of the situation for their own political gain particularly scandalous. ... A responsible government would tackle the housing issue by coming up with structural and long-term solutions.”
"Keep fighting for what belongs to you!"
In Eldiario.es, writer Isaac Rosa blames turbo-capitalism:
“Maricarmen had her home, her neighbourhood, her whole world snatched from her. People can die from grief, helplessness and fear. … Had Maricarmen not been living there, those who evicted her could have driven up the price of her flat far more quickly. Now, with her death, they have got what they wanted. Turbo-capitalism is devouring entire neighbourhoods and families. … 'Keep fighting for what belongs to you,' she said on the day of her eviction. … Maricarmen's memory will live on at the demonstrations, during the general strike on 11 November and with every eviction that is stopped.”
This woman changed Spain
Maricarmen leaves an immense legacy, writes El País:
“Without Maricarmen, there would have been neither protest camps nor tens of thousands of demonstrators. ... Without Maricarmen, the political class would not have suddenly started seeking answers and solutions, and the government would not have rushed to pass decrees preventing further evictions after eight years in power. ... Without Maricarmen, the elections would probably not have been brought forward to 29 November. And without her, it is hard to imagine that a general strike would have been called for 11 November. There was already a discontent spanning all generations and ideologies in this country, but it was this fragile and defenceless woman who set things in motion. Spain has changed over these last two weeks.”