Spain Parliament Rejects Pedro Sánchez Housing Bills
- Spain’s parliament voted 184 to 166 against the second of two government-backed housing measures, dealing a severe legislative defeat to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his minority coalition.
- The rejected legislation sought to force automatic rental contract renewals, curb evictions for vulnerable tenants, and restrict investment firms known as vulture funds from buying low-priced properties.
- Public anger intensified after the September 23 eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid apartment of roughly seven decades, though her investment company owner reversed the eviction...
Parliamentary Rejection Dooms Sánchez Housing Package
Spain’s parliament voted 184 to 166 against the second of two government-backed housing measures, dealing a severe legislative defeat to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his minority coalition. The vote followed a 178 to 172 defeat of a related housing bill earlier the same day.
Streets Erupt as Vulnerable Tenant Protections Fall
The rejected legislation sought to force automatic rental contract renewals, curb evictions for vulnerable tenants, and restrict investment firms known as vulture funds from buying low-priced properties. Hundreds of protesters outside the parliament building yelled shame as the bills failed. The demonstrations follow a week of civil unrest across Spain that included a tent city set up in Madrid’s central Puerta del Sol.
Public anger intensified after the September 23 eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid apartment of roughly seven decades, though her investment company owner reversed the eviction later that week.
Junts Math Deficit Crushes Center-Left Majority
Parliamentary math doomed the package after the Catalan separatist party Junts voted against both measures. Sánchez’s center-left government relies on the seven lawmakers from Junts to pass legislation in a chamber where the ruling coalition lacks a majority. The conservative Popular Party and the far-right Vox party joined Junts to defeat the bills.
Pablo Bustinduy, Spain’s social rights minister, said leaving the parliamentary chamber that the parties voting against the measures made a huge mistake and will pay for it at the polls.
Landlord Distinction Dispute Fuels Political Divide
Junts argued that the proposed laws failed to distinguish between small landlords relying on rental income and profit-driven real estate corporations, warning of negative and irreversible effects. Prior to the vote, Sánchez urged lawmakers to ignore political calculations, while the Spanish Tenants’ Union called for a general strike and urged protesters to maintain their Madrid tent camp until demands are met.
David Llamas, a 26-year-old living with his parents due to high rents, told reporters that activists saw the defeat coming and intend to keep fighting.
Snap Election Demands Mount Ahead of 2027 Ballots
The parliamentary failure increases pressure on the minority government ahead of general elections scheduled for 2027. Vox leader Santiago Abascal called for snap elections, stating that the sooner a vote is held, the better. While Sánchez has repeatedly ruled out calling an early vote, recent opinion polls generally place the opposition Popular Party ahead of the ruling Socialists. Fresh demonstrations are scheduled across Spain on Saturday.