'Stunned' Madrid mourns pensioner who sparked housing protests

Madrid, Spain found itself in mourning as pensioner Maricarmen Abascal's eviction sparked widespread housing protests. The 87-year-old, who had lived in her apartment for 70 years, died in the hospital two weeks after her forced removal. Her death became the catalyst for the protests, leading to early elections on November 29. Aitana Lopez, one of the protesters, laid a candle at an improvised shrine in Madrid's Puerta del Sol square in remembrance of Abascal.

The candle, accompanied by flowers and a placard, read, "Thank you for everything, we will never forget you. She's the grandmother of an entire country." Lopez expressed her desire to pay tribute to Abascal, stating she wanted to "come down, lay a candle... to make an appearance." Protesters gathered around the tribute, with some visibly moved and others trying to navigate the obstacles of tents and candles.

The death of Abascal, who used a wheelchair, brought a sense of outrage among the public, with hundreds marching towards parliament, some even calling her death a "murder." The minority coalition failed to pass the proposed measures in parliament, leading to the call for early elections. Despite the government's attempts to address the issue with two decrees, Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez faced criticism for his actions during his eight years in power.