MADRID — Housing protesters camped out in Madrid’s most iconic square awoke from their third night in the open to await details from the Spanish government on what it’s doing to tackle a crisis that has brought tens of thousands of people onto the streets in recent days.
\n\nThe protests and the encampment in Puerto del Sol followed the eviction of María del Carmen Abascal, 87, who was carried out on a stretcher from the apartment where she had lived for seven decades.
\n\nRising costs and a housing shortage are pricing many Spaniards out of the housing market, despite strong economic growth in Europe’s fourth-largest economy. The protesters are demanding stronger protections for tenants, measures to combat fraud and a ban on evictions when alternative housing is unavailable.
\n\nSince the camp was set up on Saturday, the number of tents in the central square has increased. Smaller protest encampments have sprung up in other cities, from Seville and Málaga in the south to Santiago de Compostela in the north and Palma de Mallorca in the tourist-friendly Balearic Islands, drawing international attention to a long-running issue.
\n\nAsked about the situation on Monday, Pope Leo XIV said it underscored the need for…
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health