Spanish pensioner whose eviction sparked nationwide protests dies, union says

Key Points:

• Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman whose eviction after 70 years in her Madrid home sparked nationwide protests over Spain's housing crisis, has died, according to the Madrid Tenants' Union.
• Abascal was forcibly removed from her apartment on 23 September after rent increases made it unaffordable; although the property company later offered a reduced rent, she was hospitalized and unable to return.
• Her eviction became a symbol of Spain's housing crisis, triggering widespread protests, a political row, and the rejection of emergency housing legislation in Congress, which led Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to call early elections for 29 November.
• Thousands gathered in Madrid's Puerta del Sol to mourn Abascal, holding vigils and marches demanding an end to evictions, with chants accusing authorities and landlords of complicity in the crisis.
• Both government and opposition leaders expressed condolences, while unions announced a general strike for 11 November to demand housing reforms amid ongoing public outrage and political turmoil.