Spain’s Congress voted down two government decree-laws designed to address the country’s housing crisis, marking a major parliamentary defeat for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The measures required legislative approval to remain in effect, with lawmakers rejecting the first decree 178-172 and the second 184-166.
The rejected initiatives had been hastily developed in response to nationwide protests ignited by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her Madrid home after being unable to afford a sharp rent increase. The case galvanized broader demonstrations demanding affordable housing solutions, with hundreds of protesters gathering outside Congress during the debate and continuing demonstrations in multiple cities. The Tenants’ Union and other activist groups have called for a general strike over housing affordability.
The first decree would have suspended evictions of vulnerable tenants through 2030, extended rental leases expiring before 2028, increased taxes on tourist apartments, and restricted residential property purchases by investment firms. The second decree proved more contentious, featuring automatic renewal of rental contracts, a key demand among housing advocates. The government’s inability to secure sufficient support reflects its lack of a congressional majority, with opposition from the conservative People’s Party, far-right Vox, and crucially, the Catalan pro-independence party Together for Catalonia, which signaled opposition on the eve of the vote.
Government officials framed the measures as essential interventions to prevent societal collapse. Social Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy characterized the vote as a choice between defending working families or international investment interests. Critics from the political right argued the decrees would discourage property owners from renting out homes, potentially worsening housing shortages. The defeat has intensified speculation that Sánchez may dissolve parliament and call snap elections, as his government faces mounting pressure from both the housing crisis and ongoing scandals.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI