Spain protests flare after housing bill rejected: Will it cause snap poll?
Mass protests have erupted across Spain following the parliament's rejection of two government decrees aimed at addressing the national housing crisis. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is reportedly considering calling for snap elections as public pressure mounts over rising rents and evictions.
Why it matters
The potential for snap elections in Spain could significantly alter the political landscape of a major EU economy and impact future housing policy in the region.
Sharp rise in rents triggers mass protests, but conservative MPs vote against measures to tackle the crisis.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Demonstrators hold placards reading 'Antifascists' during a protest in Madrid against the housing crisis [Alejandro Martinez Velez/Reuters] By Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters Published On 4 Oct 2026 4 Oct 2026 Tens of thousands of people have rallied across Spain as protests have spread since the conservative-dominated parliament rejected a bill proposing measures to tackle a housing crisis.
Parliament on Friday voted down two decrees proposed by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s minority left-wing coalition government that were intended to address the housing crisis.
The protests erupted late last month after an 87-year-old woman was evicted from her home of 70 years in the capital, Madrid. Maria del Carmen Abascal’s eviction came after an international investment fund bought her building and hiked the rent.
Also covering this story
8 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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