Thousands of people are expected to march through central Madrid on Thursday evening following the death of María del Carmen Abascal, an 87-year-old pensioner whose eviction became a focal point for protests over housing pressures in Spain.
Abascal, widely known as Maricarmen, died in hospital on Wednesday night. Her death came about two weeks after she was evicted from her flat in the Spanish capital.
The property had been purchased by an investment firm that sought to raise her rent by 230%, according to reporting by The Guardian. Her case brought public attention to the position of older tenants facing major increases in housing costs.
The planned demonstration will commemorate Abascal while underscoring wider concern over access to affordable housing, a debate that has prompted protests across Spain.