Key facts
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez may call a snap election if housing decrees fail in parliament.
- The decrees aim to curb speculative practices, extend eviction protections until 2030, and renew rental contracts.
- The Catalan separatist Junts party announced it would oppose the housing measures.
- Sánchez stated on X that he would not withdraw the decrees.
- Anonymous government sources indicated Sánchez is leaning toward an early election.
- Nationwide demonstrations over the housing crisis are ongoing.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is contemplating calling a snap election, potentially seizing on a looming parliamentary defeat of his government's key housing decrees. The decrees, unveiled Tuesday, aim to curb speculative practices, extend eviction protections for vulnerable tenants until 2030, and automatically renew existing rental contracts. These measures follow nationwide protests sparked by the eviction of an 87-year-old tenant.
Despite initial hopes for parliamentary support, the Catalan separatist Junts party announced Thursday it would oppose both decrees, signaling their likely failure. Sánchez responded defiantly on social media, stating the vote would "define" lawmakers for generations.
Anonymous government sources told El País that Sánchez is leaning towards an early election if the decrees are defeated. Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz also declined to rule out an early vote in an interview.
Speculation about a snap election has been mounting, with Sánchez facing pressure over the migrant crisis in Ceuta and corruption cases. Housing is a top concern for Spaniards, and Sánchez may seek to leverage popular discontent by portraying the opposition as obstacles to addressing the crisis. The center-right People's Party leads in polls with 34% support, followed by Vox at 18%, both of which oppose measures that challenge landlords' property rights.
The parliamentary vote is being conducted by a show of hands, forcing lawmakers to reveal their positions publicly. The vote occurs amid ongoing nationwide demonstrations over the housing crisis, with protesters marching toward the parliament in Madrid, where they were met by a heavy police presence. The Spanish Tenants' Union is calling for a general strike and vows to continue occupying Puerta del Sol until their demands are met. A court ruling is expected this afternoon on a lawsuit filed by Madrid's regional president demanding the protest be cleared.