Spain’s government dealt a blow after parliament rejects housing measures amid protests
The defeat deepens pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as protesters plan more rallies and a possible general strike over soaring rents.
- On Friday, the Spanish Parliament rejected a package of emergency housing measures aimed at tackling the nation's affordability crisis, dealing a costly legislative defeat to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez despite his last-gasp appeal to lawmakers.
- Legislators faced mounting public pressure following the televised eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal in Madrid last week, which sparked sustained protests and a camp-in occupying the city's main square.
- The Catalan separatist party Junts joined the Popular Party and Vox in voting against both decrees, even as Housing Minister Isabel Rodr argued the ministry had incorporated 90% of their proposals.
- Protester Carla Cremonte, a 34-year-old office worker, said right-wing parties voted against workers' interests in Spain, warning that activists would continue fighting with "the atmosphere is one of a general strike."
- The setback sparked media speculation that Sanchez could call early elections for next year, while average rents in Spain have nearly doubled over 10 years, reaching €15.1 per square meter this year.
261 Articles
261 Articles
Spanish lawmakers reject housing legislation
Spain's parliament on Friday shot down government bills aimed at quelling nationwide protests over a housing crisis that were sparked by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman. The lawmakers' rejection of the two measures dealt a blow to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his centre-left government ahead of general elections scheduled for 2027. "Shame!" yelled hundreds of protesters outside the parliament building as the bills were quashed. Fresh de…
Moncloa points out that "in the next few days" will be analyzed the "consequences" of what happened while in the PSOE the idea grows that you have to take advantage of the clamor of the streets to go to the polls If the Chief Executive signed on Monday the decree of dissolution of the Cortes, the generals would take place on November 29 "I ask them to be up to date. History will judge them sooner than they believe and with more contunence", the …
This is a failure for Pedro Sanchez: the two texts presented to Parliament to resolve the housing crisis were rejected, on Friday 2 October, by MEPs, despite the growing mobilisation on the streets in Spain to demand precisely measures in favour of the tenants. If the Spanish head of government hoped to obtain the support of the Members in this major crisis, it was quite different.
With 172 votes in favour and 178 against by the People's Party, by Vox and by Junts for Catalunya. Screams of protest in the square (ANSA)
In Spain, two government proposals to tackle the housing crisis failed to secure a majority in parliament. Consequently, there is a chance the government will fall in the coming days. Prime Minister Sánchez intended to use the two decrees to temper discontent regarding high housing costs and the ongoing protests of recent weeks. The government had already agreed to the plans. One of the measures was a ban on evictions of vulnerable tenants unt…
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