Madrid protests erupt over eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen
Thousands marched in Madrid on Saturday to protest the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her longtime home and demand stronger tenant protections. Maricarmen Abascal was removed on a stretcher Wednesday after police broke down her door, sparking national debate over Spain's housing crisis. Protesters chanted slogans and carried signs reading "You could be the next Maricarmen" while marching through the capital. Abascal, hospitalized for exhaustion, urged citizens to fight for legal changes in a video message. Her rent reportedly rose 275% to 2,650 euros monthly after an investment firm bought the building. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez faces pressure to act, with a "Maricarmen decree" package planned, though parliamentary approval remains uncertain.