MADRID – Spanish Congress rejects decree on measures against the housing crisis

MADRID, October 4 /ATSH – ANSA/ – Spain’s Congress of Deputies has rejected the government’s decree on measures against the housing crisis, after it received 172 votes in favor and 178 against. The People’s Party (PP), Vox, Junts per Catalunya and UPN voted against. Junts’ seven deputies cast the votes that contributed to bringing down the decree.

The decree envisaged, among other things, extending protection from evictions for vulnerable families, extending some rental contracts, limits on speculative housing purchases by investment funds, as well as measures to regulate seasonal rentals and rooms.

Immediately after the vote, protesters from tenants’ unions and citizens who had been gathering for days in Puerta del Sol came out to protest near Parliament, on Carrera de San Jerónimo street.

According to reports, chants such as “Your profits, our misery!” and “General strike now!” were heard from the crowd.

Congress that same day also rejected a second decree on housing, with 166 votes in favor and 184 against.