Pensioner whose eviction sparked Spain protests dies

Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman, passed away after her eviction from her home sparked nationwide protests in Spain. Her eviction on 23 September triggered demonstrations over the country's housing crisis and political debate that led to early elections. Ms Abascal, who had become a symbol of Spain's housing market, was evicted from her life-long Madrid home on a stretcher following a drastic rent hike by the real estate firm that owned the apartment.

The protests included hundreds of people camping in Madrid's Puerta del Sol square, putting pressure on the minority leftist government to introduce urgent housing measures such as stricter eviction restrictions and automatic renewal of tenant contracts. The housing debate was at the forefront, but the cost had been too high, according to the tenants' union.

Ms Abascal had been hospitalized with exhaustion after her eviction, but a deal was reached to allow her to return home, although it was too late. Spain's territorial policy minister, Angel Victor Torres, expressed sorrow over her death, acknowledging her as a symbol of the struggles faced by many families, elderly, and young people in obtaining or retaining their homes.