Housing protests: the Government works on a decree law while social pressure grows

The Chief Executive, Pedro Sánchez, confirmed this Sunday at a PSOE rally in Getafe (Madrid) that the Government “is working around the clock” to approve the housing decree in the Council of Ministers on Tuesday. The president has addressed directly Maricarmen Abascal, evicted at the age of 87 this week from the apartment where she lived. "Maricarmen, I have a message for you: the Government is working against the clock to bring the housing decree law to Tuesday. I ask the parliamentary groups to make a last effort to have it validated. It is not a question of ideology, it is a question of humanity," Sánchez asserted.

This weekend, Sumar's ministers and several coalition leaders have intensified their pressure on the government partner to approve an ambitious housing decree next Tuesday. The head of Health, Mónica García, has defended that the package of measures include the extension of rents until July 2028, the expropriation of some homes to vulture funds, the prohibition of evictions of vulnerable families or the regulation of seasonal rentals and rooms. Protesters intend to remain camped at least until Tuesday.

Around 2:30 p.m., the thousands of people who demonstrated this Sunday for public education have arrived at Puerta del Sol, where there are more and more people joining the camp, which began less than 24 hours ago. A green and yellow tide surrounds part of the square and moves from Alcalá Street to the epicenter of the fight for housing. Both protests converge in front of the Madrid presidential headquarters.

The Tenants' Union of Catalonia has decided not to replicate in Barcelona the Puerta del Sol encampment in Madrid for housing, but to call a rally during President Pedro Sánchez's visit to the city, this Monday afternoon. The spokesperson, Enric Aragonès, has assured that they demand automatic extensions of contracts: that they be indefinite. "The next 48 hours are crucial, we will not accept cosmetic measures, we demand indefinite contracts, if the decree does not include it, it will be a farce."

The general secretary of Junts, Jordi Turull, confirmed this Sunday that if the decree on housing “wants to make a regulation to stop vulture funds, it will have the favorable vote of Junts.” Turull has asked the Government not to mix the housing decree with measures that, according to him, “criminalize the small owner.”

The Minister of Social Rights, Pablo Bustinduy, has launched on his Bluesky account: "People have said enough. And we are clear. Spain cannot miss this opportunity to change the housing model in favor of working families. On Tuesday, Maricarmen decree. Yes or yes."

Pedro Sánchez has once again held the PP responsible for its vote against previous housing decrees, criticizing the president of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, for the controversy over her penthouse. “Ayuso wanted to have a nest, but one made of vultures,” the president stated.