The Spanish government appears on the verge of losing two key votes it needs to approve a package of emergency measures aimed at addressing the country's housing rent crisis when lawmakers meet on Friday, while demonstrators march toward Parliament to demand aid for renters, according to the Associated Press.
The Catalan separatist Juntes Party - whose role is essential for approving the two government decrees - said in a statement on Friday morning that it would vote against them. This appears to eliminate the possibility of passing the two votes when combined with rejection from the center-right “Popular” party and the far-right “Vox” party.
The likely defeat has sparked speculation in Spanish media that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez could consider moving the election date forward from next year. Sanchez did not speak when he arrived at the House of Representatives in central Madrid, where demonstrators supporting the measures had gathered outside. His office did not immediately comment on questions from the Associated Press (AP) regarding the possibility of holding early elections.
The measures aim to calm public anger after the eviction of an elderly woman (78 years old) in Madrid last week, which was broadcast on television and led to demonstrations and the establishment of protest camps in the most important square in Madrid since then.
Marie Carmen Abascal, whose expulsion sparked protests, has become a symbol of the struggle for lower housing costs in the southern European country, where many cannot afford a home due to high prices and face pressure from a small rental market.
The 350-seat Spanish Parliament began its session at 11 am.
Traffic was suspended today, Friday, on a main bridge in Kiev that was subjected to new Russian strikes overnight, while movement was restricted on a number of other bridges, according to what the mayor of the Ukrainian capital said.
These restrictions caused a stifling traffic jam that paralyzed many areas of Kiev, which is inhabited by about three million people and relies heavily on its eight bridges extending over the Dnieper River, which divides it into two parts, according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko indicated via the Telegram application that traffic on the southern bridge “has completely stopped.”
On Thursday, the bridge was subjected for the first time to a Russian attack with drones, and it was closed for a period of no less than two hours after it was inspected and it was determined that there was “no serious damage.”
On the night of Thursday-Friday, the bridge was bombed again “several times,” according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This is the first major attack reported by the authorities on a main bridge in the Ukrainian capital since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Mayor Klitschko announced the restriction of traffic on Friday on two other main bridges, the Patton Bridge and the Metro Bridge. There were no reports of any attacks on these two bridges.
In the morning, Agence France-Presse journalists noticed the implementation of restrictions on a fourth bridge, the Darnitsky Bridge, in addition to a major traffic jam throughout Kiev.
This bombing comes in light of Russia's escalation in recent days of its attacks on civilian facilities, especially logistics and communications, in Kiev and its environs.
According to the Ukrainian army, Russia launched an attack on the country on Thursday night with more than a hundred drones, including about 50 jet drones that are difficult to shoot down. Kyiv says it has been able to neutralize most of them.
The army reported that 11 different sites were damaged, in addition to drone debris falling in five other sites.
The Russian platform A7, which specializes in financial transfers, denied in a statement today, Friday, any links to Iran, after the United States imposed sanctions on it, and said that it was helping Tehran evade the sanctions imposed on it as part of an economic exclusion process carried out by US President Donald Trump.
The US Treasury Department said yesterday, Thursday, that it prohibits any transactions with “A7” and its agents, described the company as a “major transnational criminal organization,” and expanded the scope of previously imposed sanctions to include the entire network, according to what was reported by Reuters news agency.
A7, which will be established by the defense sector-focused bank PSB in 2024, has become a leader in the interstate payments market in Russia, at a time when the country is seeking to develop alternative payment systems with its major trading partners such as China and India, through means that include cryptocurrencies, gold and non-Western currencies.
The company said in a statement: “A7 categorically rejects any allegations that it has cooperated with Iran or terrorist organizations.”
It added that it provides “ongoing payment settlements to the Russian market that has been subject to illegal restriction measures.”
The US Treasury Department indicated that the “A7” platform had established a global network of its subsidiaries “to disguise payments related to sanctioned sectors and individuals as normal commercial activities.”
She added that Iran and the Revolutionary Guard benefited from this network.
The company said it provides services for “legitimate import and export operations related to consumer and primary goods.”
