Spain: Government crisis deepens after housing measures are voted down

MADRID, Oct 2 /ATSH-DPA/ – The minority government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been plunged into a deep political crisis after Parliament rejected two decrees aimed at tackling the housing crisis in Spain, in particular rising rents and evictions from homes.

MPs from the People’s Party (PP), the right-wing populist party “Vox”, the Catalan conservative separatist party “Junts” and two other MPs voted against the measures.

In the 350-seat Parliament, the first decree was rejected with 178 votes against, while the second was rejected with 184 votes against.

Sánchez’s government has found it increasingly difficult to pass initiatives in Parliament since “Junts”, which has seven MPs, withdrew its support for the government about a year ago.

Prime Minister Sánchez took part in the parliamentary debate and called on MPs to vote in favour of the decrees, arguing that doing so would avoid negative consequences for society.

On Tuesday, the government approved a broad package of measures for the housing crisis, following a strong public reaction to the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her home, a case that sparked large protests.

The measures provided for extending protection for people at risk of eviction; stricter rules for rental contracts; a ban until 2028 on the purchase of apartments by large investment funds seeking to profit from the housing market; and tax relief for tenants and landlords.

The second decree also provided for a two-year extension of existing rental contracts that would end by the end of 2028.

The housing crisis in Spain has several causes.

According to data from the national statistics institute, INE, the country’s population has grown by about 3 million inhabitants since 2015, or about 7%.

At the same time, tourism has also grown significantly.

According to the newspaper “El País”, since 2018 the number of overnight stays in tourist apartments and homes has doubled.