MADRID, Spain: The death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, whose eviction from her Madrid home triggered major protests over Spain's housing crisis, has sparked fresh demonstrations across the country.

Abascal died on October 7 after spending more than a week in hospital following her eviction on September 23. Police and social workers removed her from the home, where she had lived for more than 70 years, on a stretcher.

The Madrid tenants' union announced her death as thousands of people gathered in the capital to protest housing problems, including a shortage of homes and rapidly rising rents.

Abascal had been admitted to hospital with severe anxiety and exhaustion after she was evicted. Her case became a symbol of the housing crisis, with activists setting up camps in Madrid's Puerta del Sol.

After news of her death, thousands of protesters marched from Puerta del Sol towards parliament. Demonstrators chanted, "This is not a death. It's a murder!" The cause of Abascal's death was not immediately announced.

Protests were also held in Barcelona.

Trade unions announced a nationwide general strike for November 11 over housing issues.

The growing protests followed parliament's rejection last week of measures aimed at reducing evictions and limiting pressure from rising rents. The developments also led Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to call an early election for November 29.

Sanchez is seeking to move the political debate away from his government's handling of the migrant crisis in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta and corruption cases involving members of his Socialist Party and his family. The housing crisis has become a major public concern as rents continue to rise.

The tenants' union said Abascal's death had left an example of the fight she had led and the legacy she left behind. It said she had always called on people to keep fighting for what belonged to them.

Sanchez expressed his sadness over Abascal's death in a post on X, offering his condolences to those mourning her.

Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of Spain's center-right People's Party, said her death should not be used for political purposes. He called for respect for Abascal and said political parties and campaigns should have no role in the aftermath of her death.

An investment fund evicted Abascal after buying her home. Several days later, her lawyer said she had reached an eight-year agreement with her landlord that would have allowed her to return to the property while paying the same rent as before.

She had planned to sign the agreement after recovering, but she remained in hospital and never got the chance to return home.

A neighbor said Abascal, who lived near Madrid's famous Retiro Park, had been influenced by her experiences during Spain's authoritarian Franco era, which ended in 1975. He described her as determined, with strong views, a clear sense of justice, and a strong belief in solidarity.

Guillermo Ruiz, a 31-year-old audiovisual specialist who joined the march, said the situation had left him pessimistic about the possibility of change. He said protesters should continue mobilizing for a dignified life and work to ensure that others do not suffer what Abascal experienced.