Spain's housing decrees fail in parliament, prompting Sánchez to consider snap election
Spain's parliament rejected two emergency housing decrees on Friday, a defeat that has intensified calls for a general strike and pushed Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez toward potentially calling a snap election. The measures, aimed at curbing speculation and extending eviction protections, failed after the Catalan party Junts withdrew support, despite the government incorporating 90% of their proposals. The vote occurred amid massive protests in Madrid, where demonstrators occupied Puerta del Sol following the televised eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal. While the evicted woman has since been allowed to return to her home, the political impasse remains unresolved, with the opposition blaming the government for rushing legislation and the ruling coalition facing pressure from both landlords and tenants.