- Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman whose forced eviction from her Madrid home of over 70 years sparked nationwide housing protests in Spain, has died in hospital.
- Abascal was removed from her property on a stretcher by police and social workers on 23 September, triggering widespread anger and encampments in Madrid over spiralling rents and property shortages.
- Thousands of demonstrators marched to parliament following the announcement of her death, as trade unions announced a nationwide general strike over housing issues scheduled for 11 November.
- The escalating housing crisis and parliament's rejection of decrees aimed at capping rent pressures led Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to call an early general election for 29 November.
- Despite recently securing an agreement with the real estate firm to return to her apartment, Abascal has become a prominent national symbol in the ongoing fight against rising living and rental costs.
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