Madrid protests erupt over elderly woman's forced eviction

Tens of thousands of people protested in Madrid against the forced eviction of an 87-year-old woman, highlighting Spain's severe housing crisis and increasing pressure on the left-wing government. The eviction of Maricarmen has become a national symbol of the issue. The protest, under the slogan "Ni una Maricarmen más," drew around 25,000 attendees per the Interior Ministry, though organizers claimed 300,000. Maricarmen was removed from her Madrid apartment on Wednesday after failed eviction attempts and was hospitalized, urging others to "keep fighting." Demonstrators blamed both the central government and regional authorities for the housing shortage, demanding indefinite lease extensions and rent freezes. The government plans to approve a new decree on Tuesday with measures against evictions, while some politicians have called for expropriating properties from investment funds.