Spanish PM Sánchez loses key housing crisis vote after eviction of woman, 87
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez suffered a major legislative defeat after Congress rejected his government's housing reform decrees. The failure of these measures, intended to address a housing crisis highlighted by the eviction of an elderly woman, increases pressure on Sánchez to call a snap election.
Why it matters
The defeat threatens the stability of the current Spanish government and highlights the growing political volatility surrounding housing affordability in Europe.
Image source, AFP via Getty Images Image caption, Before his bruising defeat, Pedro Sánchez made a last-ditch appeal to allies to back changes to the law
Spain's Congress has rejected a series of measures aimed at tackling the country's housing crisis, in a defeat for the government of Pedro Sánchez that increases pressure on him to call a snap election.
Lawmakers voted on two decree-laws presented by the government in response to nationwide protests that have followed the eviction of an 87-year-old woman, Maricarmen Abascal, from her home.
The decrees, which introduced a series of initiatives aimed at protecting tenants in the rental market, required parliamentary approval in order to remain in place.
MPs rejected the first decree by 178 votes to 172 and voted against the second by 184 to 166.
Hundreds of demonstrators had gathered outside Congress as the debate took place and there were angry scenes.
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