What to know about Pedro Sánchez’s bid to turn Spain’s housing crunch into an electoral victory

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez revived housing measures with a new €10 billion loan plan, aiming to address the housing crisis ahead of the upcoming 29 November general election. The government approved two decrees, one offering protection against evictions and the other proposing interest-free loans for first-time buyers.

The eviction protection decree, akin to the 'Maricarmen decree', will take effect upon publication in the Official State Gazette (BOE) pending parliamentary approval. Meanwhile, the loan scheme will require lawmakers to approve it for automatic rental contract renewal. Sánchez emphasized the need for intervention in the housing market, drawing a parallel with Spain's successful Iberian mechanism for energy price control.

He stressed that the government's priority is securing ratification of the eviction protection decree and requested parliamentary groups to ratify these decrees in the Standing Committee. Demonstrations across Spain called for stronger tenant protections and action against fraudulent rental practices, reflecting growing frustration over housing shortages and rising prices.