Spain: Madrid protesters mourn evicted pensioner Maricarmen Abascal

Loading the video No Comment Video. Spain: Madrid protesters mourn evicted pensioner Maricarmen Abascal Copy/paste the link below: Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Updated: 09/10/2026 - 14:32 GMT+2 Tens of thousands marched in Madrid to mourn pensioner Maricarmen Abascal, whose eviction made her a housing crisis symbol and sparked fresh protests. Crowds filled the streets of Madrid on Thursday, 8 October, in solidarity with 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal, known as Maricarmen, whose eviction has sparked widespread anger over Spain's housing crisis. She died in hospital on Wednesday, two weeks after being removed from her home. Her death reignited anger over housing costs and evictions, amid a political crisis that led to a snap election being called for 29 November. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Thousands marched from Puerta del Sol to her former home, carrying her portrait and a funeral wreath. Many walked in silence; at Cibeles, they observed a minute's silence. Candles, flowers and messages were left at a makeshift memorial outside her former home. Hundreds have been camping in Puerta del Sol, the centre of the housing protest movement. Madrid Tenants' Union spokesperson Alicia del Río praised Abascal's determination to defend her rights. Demonstrators said her struggle had inspired people across generations and vowed to keep campaigning for affordable housing. Spain Madrid housing crisis Protest Elderly people cost of living Top stories Now playing Next Spain: Madrid protesters mourn evicted pensioner Maricarmen Abascal Now playing Next Cars burned and shops looted as anti-immigration protests rock South Africa Now playing Next Chile: Santiago flooding turns streets to rivers as Kast declares state of catastrophe Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | October 9th, 2026 – Morning Now playing Next ‘I still want to verify this’: Nobel Peace Prize winner Navi Pillay’s first reaction Now playing Next US sailors reunite with families as USS Abraham Lincoln returns home Now playing Next 'Modern-day Thomas Edison': Trump awards Musk top US science medal Now playing Next Mélenchon declares ‘Bastille retaken’ after major student rally Now playing Next Marco Rubio calls Portugal 'ideal gateway' to Europe for US Now playing Next Inside Kazakhstan’s rock-hewn mosques now recognised by UNESCO In partnership with MDQ Now playing Next Fire rages at Yandex data centre after Ukraine drone attack Now playing Next French students 'retake Bastille', Trump 'unwilling' to help Ukraine Now playing Next Inside Kazakhstan’s historic rock-hewn mosques now recognised by UNESCO Now playing Next Jurist Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize for 2026 Now playing Next Violence is 'not general' in French students protests, MEP says Now playing Next Associate EU membership 'very interesting' for New Zealand, says former prime minister ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT No Comment Deadly floods sweep Albania and Montenegro as rivers burst banks No Comment Hundreds of farmers rally in Paris against EU-Mercosur pact and import fears No Comment Tiny turtles take their first steps towards the sea No Comment Heavy autumn snow paralyses roads in Russia’s Far East Europe Today Latest attacks on Ukraine are ‘war crimes done by Putin’, says Ukrainian politician Climate Hungary's 2026 drought is the country's most severe in 126 years, data shows Europe Today Rima Hassan denies throwing the EU flag to the floor at 7 October commemoration USA US military will livestream the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter, 'torture' for UN Europe Today Europe Today: French students 'retake Bastille', Trump 'unwilling' to help Ukraine World News Fire rages at Yandex data centre after Ukraine drone attack Europe News ‘We will continue’: Madrid protesters pay tribute to 87-year-old woman Sport Tsunoda Claims World Gold as Murao Retains His Title in Baku ADVERTISEMENT Europe News Mélenchon declares ‘Bastille retaken’ after major student rally in Paris Europe News Marco Rubio calls Portugal 'ideal gateway' to Europe for US during Lisbon visit No Comment French students clash with police as school protests continue Azerbaijan Experts in Baku urge action as missing persons surge worldwide and in Ukraine Focus Turkmenistan marks 35 years of independence with an eye on the future Culture news Michael Jackson memorabilia including iconic Thriller jacket to go under the hammer Europe News EU presses Russia for more details on suspected plague case Business Series From oil to renewables: this country's energy giant looks beyond its borders ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT