Spanish Congress Rejects Sánchez's Emergency Housing Decrees

Overview

• The two government decrees were defeated in recorded votes in Congress, with the first losing 178–172 and the second 184–166, a result that crystallized on Friday.
• The package would have suspended evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030, extended or automatically renewed many rental contracts, and limited purchases of homes by investment funds.
• The Catalan party Junts switched to vote with the opposition and its defection proved decisive in blocking the measures the government fast‑tracked last week.
• Tens of thousands of people protested across more than 50 Spanish cities on Saturday, with Madrid turnout estimates ranging from about 70,000 (government) to 500,000 (organizers), and protesters have called for further mobilization including a possible general strike.
• The vote leaves policy and political uncertainty: Sánchez must decide whether to seek a new vote or other measures while the broader housing problem persists, with the Bank of Spain estimating a roughly 700,000‑unit shortfall and recent data showing double‑digit home price growth and rising rents.