Spain approves housing reforms after nationwide strike over costs

Spain’s parliament has approved a decree extending eviction protections for some tenants, a day after hundreds of thousands joined a nationwide strike over housing costs. The measure comes amid a deepening affordability crisis and political uncertainty: a snap election is due later this month, and the leading opposition party says it would repeal the reforms if it takes power.

The decree passed by 35 votes to 34 and protects tenants judged by social services to be in a precarious position from eviction when regional authorities cannot provide alternative accommodation. A separate proposal to curb speculation by barring property firms from buying homes for less than 70 per cent of their value failed by 34 votes to 35. The dispute follows protests sparked in part by the eviction and subsequent death of 87-year-old Maria del Carmen Abascal, while opponents argue the rejected measure could reduce rental supply and push prices higher.