Evicted 87-year-old Spanish pensioner to return home after deal

An 87-year-old Spanish pensioner, Maricarmen Abascal, who was evicted from her home and sparked nationwide protests, is returning to her apartment under a new deal with the property owners. The eviction, which occurred last Wednesday, became a symbol of the housing crisis in Spain, where unaffordable housing has been a long-standing issue.

Abascal, who is wheelchair-bound and had paid her rent for 70 years, was removed from her home on a stretcher and became a rallying point for demonstrators who have set up around 100 tents in Madrid's Puerta del Sol square. Her lawyer, Beatriz Duro, stated that the agreement reached with the property owners would result in a similar monthly rent to what Abascal had previously been paying.

The government, led by Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, is seeking to pass a new housing law to address the crisis, but the coalition lacks a majority in parliament, making the success of such legislation uncertain.