Spain's government is poised to approve urgent measures addressing the nation's housing crisis on Tuesday, a day after tens of thousands took to the streets in Barcelona, culminating in clashes with police.
The unrest in Barcelona late Monday followed nationwide protests over the weekend that were initially sparked by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid. In Barcelona, a severe weather alert had postponed a planned protest, leading to a rescheduled demonstration that began peacefully but devolved into violence when a segment of the crowd engaged with law enforcement.
Reports indicate the government intends to pass measures similar to those previously rejected by Parliament, which led Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to call for early elections on November 29. These measures would then be sent for ratification by an interim legislature. Sánchez is expected to hold a news conference later Tuesday to discuss the developments.
Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez outlined the proposed measures, which include extending eviction protections for vulnerable individuals until 2030, regulating room rentals, introducing a new tax on seasonal rentals, prohibiting speculative real estate purchases, and offering tax incentives to landlords. These actions aim to tackle rising costs and a housing shortage that are increasingly displacing Spaniards from the market, even amidst strong economic growth in Europe's fourth-largest economy. Protesters have been advocating for enhanced tenant protections, measures against housing fraud, and a ban on evictions when alternative housing is unavailable.