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An elderly woman whose eviction sparked nationwide protests over Spain's housing crisis and a political row that triggered early elections has died, according to Madrid's tenants union. Maricarmen Abascal, 87, was forcibly removed on a stretcher from her apartment of more than 70 years on 23 September after she was unable to afford steep rent increases. Her father had first rented the flat in Madrid's Retiro district in 1956 and she continued as the tenant after her parents died, during which time there was a cap on the rent. The area has become increasingly sought-after, and Urbagestión, the company that bought the property in 2018, increased the rent from €500 per month (£428; $572) to €2,650 (£2,280; $3,020). They later offered to reduce this to €1,650 - still €300 more than Abascal's monthly pension. Three earlier attempts to evict her had been blocked by the courts and her case attracted widespread support from the public and celebrities. Tap the link in @BBCNews's bio for more on this story. (Getty/Reuters) #Spain #Madrid #MaricarmenAbascal #BBCNew

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