MADRID: Spain’s parliament has approved new measures to protect vulnerable tenants from eviction, following months of public protests and a nationwide strike over rising rents and the growing cost of housing.
The decision came on Thursday, as the country’s minority government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, rushed to introduce housing reforms ahead of a snap election scheduled for later this month, according to Al Jazeera News.
The housing crisis has become a major source of public anger in Spain. Demonstrations swept across the country in September after the eviction of 87 year old Maria del Carmen Abascal, widely known as Maricarmen, from her home shocked the nation. Her death in October further intensified demands for stronger tenant protection.
On Wednesday, hundreds of thousands of people joined a 24 hour general strike, organised by major trade unions, to protest against unaffordable rents and the rising cost of living.
The government responded by introducing two new decrees, hoping to overcome earlier parliamentary opposition. One measure was approved by a narrow 35–34 vote. It extends eviction protection for tenants facing serious financial or social difficulties when local authorities cannot provide alternative accommodation.
However, a second proposal aimed at limiting property speculation was rejected by 34–35 votes. It would have prevented companies involved in the property market from buying homes for less than 70 per cent of their value.
The centre right Basque party opposed the proposal, warning that it could discourage homeowners from renting out their properties and reduce the supply of available housing.
The conservative Popular Party has strongly opposed the reforms and promised to repeal them if it wins power in the upcoming election. Instead, it argues that building more homes is the best way to address the shortage.
With housing costs continuing to rise, Spain now faces not only a housing emergency but also a political battle over who can offer ordinary families a more secure place to live.
