Day after day of protests over the forced eviction of an 87-year-old man... Prime Minister Sánchez: “Time for truth”

All tenant protection measures prepared by the Spanish government to solve the housing crisis were rejected in parliament. Amid large-scale protests over the recent forced eviction of an 87-year-old man, there are speculations that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez may throw an early general election as the bill was defeated due to opposition from the opposition.

According to AFP, the Spanish National Assembly on the 2nd (local time) rejected two laws that included automatic extension of lease contracts until 2028, strengthening regulations on short-term rentals, banning investments in the housing market by 'speculative' funds, restricting the eviction of vulnerable tenants, and providing tax benefits for housing rental and construction. Not only the conservative opposition People's Party (PP) and the far-right Vox Party (VOX), but also the Catalan separatist party Together with Catalonia (Junts), which once cooperated with the Sánchez government, voted against.

Prime Minister Sánchez appealed just before the vote amid thousands of people protesting outside the parliament, saying, "Think of the families who are always living in anxiety due to ever-rising rents," but it failed to overturn the result.

Spain has been suffering from a chronic housing shortage due to real estate speculation targeting short-term tourist demand. According to Idealista, a property search site, the rent per 1 m2 has jumped 84% over the past 10 years, from an average of 8.2 euros (about 12,100 won) in 2016 to 15.1 euros (about 22,900 won) this year. Recently, large-scale protests were sparked when Marie Carmen Abascal (87), who had lived in her Madrid home for over 70 years, was forcibly evicted because she could not afford the rapidly rising rent.

Tenant protection groups are calling for stronger measures to freeze rents and sanction oppressive landlords until the housing crisis is resolved. This law is called the ‘Mari Carmen Law’ after the old man who was kicked out of his home. The Spanish Tenants' Union called for a general strike on this day and announced that it would continue protesting in a tent at Puerta del Sol square in downtown Madrid until its demands are accepted.

There is an analysis that Prime Minister Sánchez, who has led a left-wing minority government, may use this opportunity to dissolve the National Assembly, which is in office until next summer, and hold new elections. Prime Minister Sánchez is already facing a crisis due to the mass border crossing of immigrants that occurred in the North African territory of Ceuta last July and suspicions of family corruption.

The Sánchez government is rejecting a request from the Madrid regional government to disperse the protest occupying the square. On this day, the vote in the National Assembly was conducted by writing in accordance with the ruling party's request. Daily El Pais reported, citing government sources, that Prime Minister Sánchez is leaning toward early general elections.

The day before, Prime Minister Sánchez said on “The sooner we hold elections, the better,” said Vox Party leader Santiago Abascal. In a public opinion poll released on the 26th of last month, the People's Party recorded an approval rating of 34%, and the Social Labor Party (PSOE), to which Prime Minister Sánchez belongs, recorded an approval rating of 26%.