Spain’s lawmakers rejected two government bills aimed at addressing a housing crisis, as protests over rising rents and evictions continue to grow. The measures, which included restrictions on evictions and protections for vulnerable tenants, were shot down in parliament, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s center-left government ahead of 2027 elections.
The bills, introduced by Sánchez’s Socialist-led coalition, faced strong opposition from right-wing parties, including the conservative People’s Party and far-right Vox, as well as the Catalan pro-independence Junts. The rejection came after a contentious debate where hundreds of protesters outside the parliament building chanted slogans of disappointment and frustration.
The rejection of the bills has intensified public pressure on Sánchez’s minority government, with calls for an early election and a general strike from protesters. The crisis, sparked by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman, has become a symbol of growing discontent over housing affordability, with rents surging 80% in a decade and home prices rising 63%.