Spain's parliament has rejected two emergency decrees proposed by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's center-left government to combat the country's housing crisis. The legislation, which aimed to make housing more affordable, was defeated after opposition lawmakers from the conservative People’s party, the far-right Vox, and the Catalan pro-independence party Junts joined forces to vote against the measures.
The proposed package included a ban on evictions until 2030 and the regulation of temporary lettings and lettings by room. These measures were introduced amid nationwide uproar over rising living costs and a decade during which rents have doubled, with average prices now nearly equivalent to the monthly salary of the average young person. Public outrage intensified following the eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid, sparking widespread protests.
The defeat highlights the struggle of the minority government to secure support in Congress. The Catalan party Junts contributed to the failure by raising last-minute issues and requesting a new proposal on the eve of the vote. While the government sought to provide more tenant protections, critics argued that the measures would instead tighten the housing market.
Following the vote, Prime Minister Sanchez will decide this weekend whether to call early elections ahead of the general elections scheduled for 2027. Meanwhile, housing activists who protested outside the parliament building in Madrid are preparing fresh demonstrations and considering a general strike as their next step.