Parliament Rejects Housing Eviction Shield, Sanchez Stunned

Spain's Parliament voted down the government’s housing decree, dealing a heavy blow to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Lawmakers recorded 178 votes against and 172 in favour, rejecting the first of two measures aimed at easing the housing crisis. The rejected decree would have extended eviction protection for vulnerable tenants until 2030. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the chamber and shouted "shame!" as the count was announced. The vote follows weeks of nationwide protests over soaring rents and a shortage of affordable homes. Critics say the government’s package, approved by the cabinet earlier this week, was a key part of its social agenda, but opposition parties argued it lacked fiscal discipline. Supporters of the measure warned that dropping the eviction safeguards could push more families into insecurity. The defeat marks a significant setback for Sánchez’s administration, which has been seeking to pass the remaining decree in the same session.

Context

The housing crisis in Spain has driven repeated street actions, and eviction bans are a common tool used by European governments to protect low‑income renters during periods of high price pressure.