Spain’s government is facing a major parliamentary setback as the Catalan separatist party Junts prepares to vote against two emergency housing decrees aimed at addressing the country’s worsening housing affordability crisis.
The measures were due to be debated and voted on in Spain’s 350-seat Parliament on Friday. Junts’ decision to oppose the package, combined with expected opposition from the conservative Popular Party and Vox, leaves the government without enough support to secure approval.
The proposed measures were introduced after widespread public anger over housing costs and the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid home. Her eviction sparked protests and a continuing camp-in in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, turning her case into a symbol of Spain’s housing crisis.
One of the government’s decrees seeks to protect vulnerable tenants from eviction when they have no alternative accommodation. It also proposes tighter restrictions on short-term rentals and property speculation, alongside tax incentives intended to encourage affordable renting and new housing construction.
A second decree would make rental agreements automatically renewable under certain circumstances, effectively extending tenants’ security of tenure. It has faced stronger opposition from some political groups and property owners, who argue that the measures could reduce the supply of rental housing and push prices higher.
Junts has called for the government to withdraw the measures and negotiate a revised package. The party argues that the proposals do not sufficiently address Spain’s shortage of available housing and could create additional pressure on the rental market.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s minority government depends on support from smaller parties to pass legislation, making Junts’ decision particularly significant. The likely defeat has also fueled speculation in Spanish media about whether Sánchez could consider calling an early general election rather than waiting until next year.
The parliamentary battle comes as housing affordability remains a major concern across Spain, with many residents struggling with high rents and limited access to affordable homes.
The outcome of the vote could further increase political pressure on Sánchez’s government while intensifying calls for a broader response to Spain’s housing shortage.
Swifteradio.com
