2 days ago
Junts Opposition Imperils Spain’s Housing Crisis Decree Vote
Spain’s government wants to pass rules to help people facing a housing crisis.
The rules would protect some vulnerable renters from eviction until 2030.
They would also extend a freeze on rents for existing leases and tighten short-term rental rules.
Junts, a Catalan centre-right party, says these ideas could make housing problems worse.
It argues that landlords might offer fewer homes, causing prices to rise.
The government needs support from smaller parties because it does not have a majority in Congress.
The disagreement came after protests over the eviction of an elderly woman.
A second proposal to renew rental contracts automatically and indefinitely was also unlikely to pass.
Spain’s minority government faces dim prospects for passing a housing decree after Junts requested a new proposal.
Junts said the measures could reduce rental supply, raise prices, and limit access to housing.
The decree includes an eviction ban for vulnerable tenants until 2030, a two-year rent-freeze extension, and tighter short-term rental rules.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government has 147 of Congress’s 350 seats and depends on smaller parties’ support.
The proposals followed protests over the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, while a second rental-contract decree was also expected to fail.
- Who
- Spain’s minority government, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Junts, opposition parties, and housing protesters.
- What
- A proposed housing decree intended to address Spain’s housing crisis is at risk of being rejected in Congress.
- Where
- Spain, including Madrid and other cities where protests took place.
- When
- The dispute occurred on the eve of a scheduled congressional vote on Thursday, October 1; the year is not specified.
- Why
- The government proposed the measures after protests over an eviction, while Junts opposed them because it said they would reduce rental supply and increase prices.
Government and Housing Protesters
Junts
Effect of the measures
Government and Housing Protesters
The government proposed the decree to respond to Spain’s housing crisis and protect vulnerable renters after protests over an eviction.
Junts
Junts said the measures would produce the opposite effect by reducing rental supply, driving up prices, and making housing less accessible.
Political responsibility
Government and Housing Protesters
A protester described blocking the measures as selfish and said abandoning them would harm people in need.
Junts
Junts argued that the proposals were insufficient or counterproductive and asked the government to devise a new plan.
Housing regulation
Government and Housing Protesters
Supporters favor eviction protections, extending the rent freeze, and tighter short-term rental rules.
Junts
Junts opposed these measures on the grounds that they could discourage the supply of rental homes.
Key facts
- Government seats
- Pedro Sánchez’s minority government has 147 seats in the 350-seat Congress.
- Eviction protection
- The decree would ban evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030.
- Rent measure
- It would extend a two-year rent freeze for existing leases.
- Short-term rentals
- The proposal would impose tighter rules on short-term rentals.
- Junts position
- Junts requested a new proposal and said the measures could reduce supply and raise prices.
- Protests
- Thousands of mostly young activists protested in Madrid and other Spanish cities.
- Second decree
- A separate proposal allowing automatic and indefinite rental-contract renewals was also expected not to pass.
Quotes
Junts
Catalan separatist centre-right party with seven MPs
“Many of the measures included will produce the opposite effect of what is intended: they will reduce the supply of rental housing, drive up prices, and make it even harder for people with limited financial means to access housing.”
theprint.in
“I already thought the measures were insufficient and only temporary, but vetoing them is selfish and abandoning the people.”
theprint.in
Sources
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