Thousands march in Madrid following death of evicted pensioner Maricarmen Abascal

Thousands of people marched through central Madrid on Thursday evening to mark the death of María del Carmen Abascal, according to Euronews, The Guardian, and RTÉ. The Guardian reported that about 20,000 people took part in the rally, while Euronews reported that tens of thousands joined the march. Protesters walked from Puerta del Sol to her former home, carrying her portrait and a funeral wreath, Euronews said. [1][3][4][7][9]

The 87-year-old pensioner, known as Maricarmen, died in hospital on Wednesday, October 7, Euronews and RTÉ reported. She had been hospitalised for severe anxiety and exhaustion after being evicted from her home on September 23, according to RTÉ. France 24 noted that she was thrown out of the flat where she had lived for seven decades, while The Guardian reported that her flat had been bought by an investment firm that sought to increase her rent. [1][2][3][4]

Her eviction previously sparked nationwide demonstrations over rising housing costs and home shortages. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Abascal was removed from her Madrid apartment of 70 years after a 230 per cent rent increase demanded by an investment fund, which led to an encampment at the Puerta del Sol square in Madrid. Public discontent was already building over a luxury penthouse purchase by Madrid premier Isabel Díaz Ayuso and the suicide of an evicted woman in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, according to Wikipedia. [1][3][4][11][14][15]

The unrest prompted Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to announce a snap general election for November 29, RTÉ and Euronews reported. In addition, tributes to Abascal in the Spanish parliament have sparked further debate, according to Al Jazeera. [1][4][5][14][15]