Spanish Parliament Rejects 2030 Eviction Freeze as Sánchez Faces Early Election Calls
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 2
Spanish Parliament Rejects 2030 Eviction Freeze as Sánchez Faces Early Election Calls
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 2
Summary
Spain’s Parliament on Friday voted down a housing bill that would have halted evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030, dealing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s coalition a fresh setback.
Junts, a small Catalan party that sometimes backs the government, withdrew support hours before the vote, saying the measure would shrink rental supply and push prices higher.
The failed bill had been framed as a response to anger over the eviction of María del Carmen Abascal, an 87-year-old Madrid resident whose case fueled protests.
Early election demands then spread inside Sánchez’s Socialist Party, adding to pressure from an immigration crisis and corruption scandals.
Housing remains a potent issue in Spain, where young and low-paid renters face rising costs tied to tourism, immigration, foreign buyers and a shortage of public homes.