Home · World · Oct 2 archive
Spain Rejects Housing Decrees Amid Protests
Confirmed
In Short: Spain's parliament has narrowly voted down a pair of emergency government decrees aimed at curbing widespread protests against rising rental costs for housing, according to ABP Live English.
The Tenants' Union, which has led protests across Spain, said it would continue with plans for more mass rallies on Saturday, aiming to keep pressure on the coalition and opposition alike.
Spain has been gripped by protests for about a week, including a tent city set up in central Madrid, following the eviction of an 87-year-old pensioner from her apartment.
Left-leaning Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez leads a minority government that relies on opposition support to legislate.
The proposed measures, which comprised two separate decrees, were both shot down by the majority of the 350-seat lower house of parliament on Friday.
Miriam Nogueras of Junts argued the decrees would only lead to owners removing their properties from the rental market, driving up prices further.
"These decrees still allow speculators to buy property and to evict people," Nogueras said.
The first decree was meant to stop evictions of vulnerable people, make real estate speculation harder, impose tighter restrictions on short-term leases, and provide tax incentives to encourage renting.
The main protest group, the renters association Sindicato de Inquilinas, said it was calling for more protests on Saturday and pushing for a general strike.
"What is behind these decrees is the desire to instill order and a sense of humanity in a market that if we do not rein it in will destroy our society," Sanchez told lawmakers.
"The encampment will continue and will continue expanding to other neighborhoods," Tenants' Union spokesperson Alicia del Rio said.
"People have said 'enough is enough;' this cannot go on. The housing problem must be resolved; structural measures must be taken, and this cannot continue," Abascal's lawyer, Beatriz Duro, said.
Sanchez urged members: "Do the right thing, or history will judge you, and sooner than you think."
What this adds
The Catalan separatist party Junts carried out its announcement made hours before that it would vote against both decrees.
The government decrees were intended to quell a public uproar following the televised eviction of an 87-year-old woman last week in Madrid that sparked protests and a camp-in that has occupied Madrid’s most important square ever since.
Spanish PM Sánchez calls early election after housing protests.
What's confirmed
- The proposed measures, which comprised two separate decrees, were both shot down by the majority of the 350-seat lower house of parliament on Friday.
- Miriam Nogueras of Junts argued the decrees would only lead to owners removing their properties from the rental market, and thus driving up prices even further.
- “These decrees still allow speculators to buy property and to evict people,” Nogueras said.
- Both decrees to tackle housing affordability crisis shot down as critics say measures would tighten the housing market.
- Spain’s government has lost key votes to ratify emergency measures aimed at tackling the nation’s housing affordability crisis, after protests intensified last month following the eviction of an 87-year-old woman.
- The first decree was meant to stop evictions of vulnerable people, make real estate speculation harder, impose tighter restrictions on short-term leases and provide tax incentives to encourage renting and the construction of housing.
- The right-wing Catalan separatist party Junts refused to back the housing decrees, saying they would ultimately tighten the housing market.
What's still developing
- A Catalan party, Junts, joined the opposition, causing the decrees to be voted down.
- MADRID (AP) — Spain’s progressive government was dealt a costly legislative defeat on Friday when lawmakers rejected a package of emergency measures aimed at tackling the nation’s housing affordability crisis, while protesters marched on the Parliament demanding help for renters.
- The Catalan separatist party Junts carried out its announcement made hours before that it would vote against both decrees.
- The government decrees were intended to quell a public uproar following the televised eviction of an 87-year-old woman last week in Madrid that sparked protests and a camp-in that has occupied Madrid’s most important square ever since.
- Some people gathered outside the assembly chanted “your profits, our misery” as lawmakers voted down the government’s decree.
- Major protest in Spain as millions struggle to find an affordable home Tens of thousands of people have protested across Spain calling for greater protections for tenants after the government failed to pass emergency housing legislation.
- Spanish PM Sánchez loses key housing crisis vote after eviction of woman, 87 Photographs showed protesters in the east coast city of Valencia clashing with police officers on Saturday near arts centre Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, which was hosting a real estate summit.
- One protester, David, told RTVE ahead of the protest: "We're not here for pleasure or comfort. We're here out of conviction."
- Sainz said he would protest against rent rises "until someone dares to regulate it all", or "we'll all have to leave Madrid".
- On Friday night, Madrid's Tenants' Union said that although the government's proposed measures were insufficient, the rejection of the proposed legislation "exacerbates the housing crisis which is costing the working class their lives".
- It said Barcelona and Madrid were Spain's most expensive cities to rent a home, at €23.80 per square metre and €22.70 per square metre respectively.
- Her eviction triggered nationwide protests across Spain with protesters demanding lower rents, an end to evictions, and a ban on investment funds - or "vulture funds" as the government has termed them - buying property.