Spanish pensioner whose eviction sparked protests dies

Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old Spanish pensioner whose eviction sparked nationwide protests over Spain's housing crisis, died in hospital on Wednesday, two weeks after being forcibly removed from her Madrid home. The eviction, which occurred despite pleas from supporters and was captured on video showing police using teargas as they carried the frail woman out on a stretcher, galvanized thousands of protesters across the country.

The Madrid Tenants' Union announced Abascal's death, stating that her situation marked "a turning point in the history of this country." Her case highlighted rising rents and evictions, with proposed reforms aimed at addressing these issues being rejected by parliament. This rejection led to further protests and ultimately prompted Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to call an early election for November 29.

Protesters gathered in Madrid’s iconic Sol square to mourn Abascal's passing, holding a minute of silence outside her former home where flowers and messages were left as tributes. Her death has reignited anger over housing costs and evictions amid Spain's ongoing political crisis.