An 87-year-old woman whose forced eviction from her Madrid apartment became the face of Spain's housing crisis - and, indirectly, the reason the country is holding early elections - has died, according to the Madrid Tenants' Union.

Maricarmen Abascal was removed on a stretcher from the flat she had lived in for more than 70 years on 23 September, after she could no longer afford the rent increases. The company that owned the property later offered to let her return at a lower rate, but she was unable to sign any agreement because she had been admitted to hospital. "We regret to announce that Maricarmen passed away today," the Madrid Tenants' Union said in a statement, adding that her situation marked "a turning point in the history of this country."

Union spokesperson Alicia del Río did not mince words: "Speculation costs lives, and today rentierism has finished killing our colleague Maricarmen." She added that "her memory lives on with us."

Abascal's story was, in the driest possible terms, a landlord's dream and a tenant's nightmare. Her father first rented the property in 1956, and she continued as the tenant after her parents died - during which time there was a cap on the rent. Then Urbagestión bought the building in 2018 and raised the rent from €500 per month (£428; $572) to €2,650 (£2,280; $3,020). The company later offered to reduce this to €1,650 - still €300 more than Abascal's monthly pension. Three previous attempts to evict her were blocked by the courts, and the case received increasing media attention.

The public anger grew, leading to protests and pressure on the coalition government to approve emergency housing legislation - which was rejected in Congress last week. That rejection led to further protests, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets in cities across the country over the weekend.

Referring to the rejected bills, the Madrid Tenants' Union said: "While a historic agreement was reached that would have allowed her to return to her home, this solution has come too late. An absolutely avoidable situation after a torturing process." The union called the events a turning point in the country's history, but noted the cost of getting there had been "too high." "Above all, we will fulfil what she always asked of us: 'fight, keep fighting for what is yours,'" it said.

In a video recorded from her hospital bed after the eviction, Abascal said: "I haven't managed to defend my home, but I have fought so that others can learn to fight for what's theirs."

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said: "All my love goes to Maricarmen's family and loved ones. A hug as well to everyone who today feels this loss as their own." Opposition People's Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo also sent his condolences, writing on X: "No campaign, no parties, no self-interested exploitation. No more stones in the wall. In the face of a person's death, only respect is in order."

Protesters gathered at Madrid's Puerta del Sol following the announcement of Abascal's death. The square has become a protest encampment over the last two weeks. Protesters were pictured embracing one another as they lit candles in her memory on Wednesday evening. Hundreds marched to parliament chanting: "the struggle continues, Maricarmen lives," according to AFP. "Even though she's dead, a struggle has begun that will not stop. It doesn't matter who governs, because they will not stop us," said one protester, Nora Boumghait, 25.

Earlier on Wednesday, unions had called a general strike for 11 November, demanding housing reforms. The public outcry over Abascal's situation has led to political turmoil. On Monday, Sánchez - who leads a leftist coalition that does not hold a majority in parliament - called an early election for 29 November, following his failure to get the emergency housing legislation through Congress.

The political right had argued that the government's attempt to intervene in the housing market would have led to fewer homes being rented and would have raised prices further. Speaking on Monday, Sánchez said he needed "a broader progressive majority" that can "overcome the resistance of the elites" to push through reforms. Other issues not relating to housing, such as numerous corruption scandals linked to his party, and pressures relating to the cost of living and immigration, have also caused him problems. Most opinion polls suggest the conservatives are likely to emerge as the largest party in the next election. However, they would be expected to need the support of the hard-right Vox party to form a government.