Spain’s government dealt blow as lawmakers reject housing bills

Spain's parliament rejected two government bills on Friday aimed at addressing the nationwide housing crisis, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his center-left administration ahead of the 2027 elections. The rejection, with a significant majority of lawmakers opposing the measures, sparked outrage among protesters outside the parliament building who had been rallying against unaffordable housing for tenants and buyers.

The bills, which included an automatic renewal of rental contracts and restrictions on evictions of vulnerable tenants, were intended to tackle the growing frustration over housing affordability that had erupted following the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her family home in Madrid. Despite efforts to reverse her eviction, Abascal's case became a symbol of the broader issue.

The rejection of the bills was due to opposition from the Catalan separatist Junts party, which had seven lawmakers in Sanchez's coalition and opposed the measures. Sanchez had urged lawmakers to "forget for a moment political calculations" and support the bills, but the opposition Conservative Popular Party and far-right Vox Party also rejected them.

The defeat of the bills increases pressure on Sanchez's minority government, potentially intensifying opposition calls for an early election. The Spanish Tenants Union has called for a general strike and for the tent city set up in Madrid to remain until its demands are met. Meanwhile, the leader of the far-right Vox party, Santiago Abascal, called for the soonest possible elections.

Housing affordability has been a persistent concern in Spain, but protests intensified following Abascal's eviction. Recent polls suggest the opposition Popular Party leads the Socialists in public support.