Spain: Thousands protest in Madrid against housing crisis

Tens of thousands of people protested in central Madrid on Saturday to denounce Spain 's housing crisis. The demonstrators called for better protection for tenants , anti-fraud rules and a ban on evictions without alternative housing. The march through the center of the Spanish capital was called after an 87-year-old woman, Maricarmen Abascal , was evicted from her apartment where she had lived for seven decades. The case highlights the growing pressure on long-term tenants in Spain's major cities, where rental prices have surged in recent years. Gentrification and the shortage of affordable housing have fueled public discontent ahead of a general election next year.