Spaniards stage nationwide housing protests after eviction of 87-year-old woman

Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched across Madrid and eleven other Spanish cities to demand lower housing costs and stricter limits on forced evictions. The nationwide demonstrations were ignited by the forcible removal of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, who was carried out by police on a stretcher from the Madrid apartment where she had lived for seven decades.

Protesters jingled keys and carried banners under the slogan "Not one more Maricarmen." In response, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez labeled the incident an unacceptable "social tragedy" and pledged new legislative measures to address housing affordability. Attendance estimates varied significantly, with the Ministry of the Interior reporting 25,000 participants in Madrid while organizers claimed turnout reached 300,000.

Sources: Delo, ORF, SDK, Tagesschau, Vijesti.