Spain's parliament sinks Sanchez's emergency housing decrees as protesters jeer

Spain’s progressive government suffered a costly legislative defeat on Friday when Congress rejected both of its emergency housing decrees, 178 votes against to 172 in favour, as protesters marching on parliament jeered the result.

Catalan separatist party Junts announced hours before the ballot that it would vote against both decrees, dooming them when combined with the “No” from the centre-right Popular Party and far-right Vox, the AP reported. The first decree would have stopped evictions of vulnerable people, made property speculation harder and offered tax incentives to encourage renting; the second would have made residential leases automatically renewable by tenants.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez spoke at the end of a five-hour debate, making a last-ditch appeal for the “necessary” measures. “What is behind these decrees is the desire to instil order and a sense of humanity in a market that if we do not rein it in will destroy our society,” he told the chamber’s 349 other members. “Do the right thing, or history will judge you, and sooner than you think,” he concluded before the roll call.

The defeat sparked speculation in Spanish media that Sanchez could bring forward elections from next year, the AP reported. The renters association Sindicato de Inquilinas said it was calling more protests for Saturday and pushing for a general strike, while the Tenants’ Union said it would press on with plans for mass rallies. “The encampment will continue and will continue expanding to other neighbourhoods. We’re aiming for a general strike,” Tenants’ Union spokesperson Alicia del Rio said.

The decrees were drawn up after the televised eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid home, which triggered a wave of protests and a camp-in at Puerta del Sol. The company that evicted her said this week she can return to the apartment; she remains in hospital.

Sources

• AP (via Clacton and Frinton Gazette), “Spain’s parliament rejects housing measures amid street protests”, 2 October 2026 — https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/national/26602908.spanish-government-loses-votes-ratify-emergency-housing-measures/
• Reuters (via DevDiscourse syndicated feed), “Spain faces more fury over housing after parliament rejects decree”, 2 October 2026 — https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/international/3985830-spain-faces-more-fury-over-housing-after-parliament-rejects-decree
• AP (via Ottumwa Courier), “Spanish government loses both Parliamentary votes to ratify emergency housing measures”, 2 October 2026 — https://www.ottumwacourier.com/news/national_news/spanish-government-loses-both-parliamentary-votes-to-ratify-emergency-housing-measures/article_af78a8a5-ad3b-5bbe-bf0c-aca28c056e97.html
• Reuters, “Spanish government housing decree sunk in congressional vote”, 2 October 2026 — https://www.reuters.com/world/spanish-government-housing-decree-sunk-congressional-vote-2026-10-02/

FOLLOW-UP: own 2026-10-02-0735-spain-housing-protests-vote.md (vote preview/protests arc).