Pensioner who sparked Spain housing protests dies
Maricarmen Abascal, the 87-year-old Spanish woman whose dramatic eviction last month sparked mass housing protests that led to an early election, has died, the Madrid tenants' union said on Wednesday, as thousands demonstrated over her death. Abascal had been in hospital for severe anxiety and exhaustion since her eviction on September 23 from her home of more than 70 years, when police and social workers removed her by stretcher. Her case ignited protests over a mounting housing crisis including a shortage of homes and surging rents. Activists camped out in a major Madrid square. Following news of Abascal's death on Wednesday, thousands marched from the square, Puerta del Sol, towards parliament, chanting: "This is not a death. It's a murder!" A cause of death was not announced. "This was a completely avoidable death that symbolises the drama that is the housing crisis in Spain," said 36-year-old marcher Dario Gomez in Madrid. Demonstrators also held protests in Barcelona. Trade unions on Wednesday announced a nationwide general strike over housing issues on November 11. The protests, along with parliament's rejection last week of decrees aimed at curbing evictions and limiting rent pressures, prompted Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to call an early election for November 29. "Now, following her passing, we...
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