Can Sánchez convince Spanish voters he is their best hope for fairer housing?
This story was selected and curated by our editorial team in the Europe category. Published on October 8, 2026 • Originally reported by Sam Jones in Madrid. OMEGAZEPRIME provides independent news coverage and analysis for our readers. Stay informed with the latest developments.
Recent death of 87-year-old woman likely to focus attention on crisis in run-up to general election at end of November
Even before María del Carmen Abascal died on Wednesday night, a mere fortnight after her eviction from the Madrid flat where she had lived for most of her life, the frail 87-year-old woman had become the enduring face of Spain’s housing crisis.
Her plight – and the wider issue it embodied – had led to street demonstrations, the creation of a protest camp in the middle of the Spanish capital, and spurred the socialist-led government to propose emergency measures to facilitate and protect access to housing. When rightwing and far-right parties voted down those measures in congress last week, the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, responded by announcing a snap general election for the end of November.
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