Is Spain’s anti-eviction decree a fix for its housing crisis?

What the report says

Spain’s left-wing government has unveiled anti-eviction measures aimed at easing the country’s housing crisis after the forced removal of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal in Madrid triggered widespread protests. According to Al Jazeera, the package would ban evictions until 2030, roll over some rental contracts and restrict so-called vulture funds from the housing market. The proposals are split into two decrees that must pass a parliamentary vote, where Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s minority coalition faces a difficult path to approval.

The Abascal case became a flashpoint because she had lived in the same home for decades under a rent-capped lease before the property changed hands and her rent was sharply increased. Her eviction, carried out on a stretcher, helped turn her into a symbol of broader frustration over rising housing costs and insecurity for renters. Government ministers have framed the issue as a result of speculation and financial investors targeting homes, while also pressing opponents to back the reforms.

The plan has drawn criticism from conservative and regional parties, especially Junts, which says the rules do not sufficiently protect small landlords who depend on rental income. The Popular Party has also rejected the decree and argues that housing shortages should be addressed mainly by increasing supply and using tax incentives. More broadly, Spain has seen steep house-price growth over the past decade and a rising share of renters spending a large part of their income on housing, underscoring why the debate has become politically urgent.