Spain announces ban on evictions after protests over 87-year-old woman’s removal from flat

Spain's coalition government has approved new housing measures in response to protests over the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her apartment in Madrid. The government's two decrees, which take effect immediately, aim to bring relief to more than five million people. The decrees include a ban on evictions until 2030, rolling over rental contracts until 2028, stricter regulation of short-term and room rentals, and a ban on investment firms purchasing housing.

However, opposition politician Míriam Nogueras criticized the measures for excluding "small landlords out in the cold." The government, lacking a parliamentary majority, must secure approval from right-leaning parties within a month, though the coalition hopes to hold the vote as early as next Friday. Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez urged political parties to support the decrees, stating that "Congress has the opportunity to tell Maricarmen that her suffering was worth it… and that many people will benefit from her battle."

Protests over housing issues have spread to other Spanish cities, with thousands marching in Madrid and setting up tents in the Puerta del Sol.