Spain’s Parliament rejects Pedro Sánchez’s measures as tenant protests intensify in Madrid

Spain’s Parliament rejected on Friday, October 2, 2026, a resolution on tenant protection proposed by the minority government led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The vote represents a major setback for the government, which is trying to address the housing crisis and rapidly rising rents.

The governing coalition holds only 147 of the 350 seats and failed to secure the support of smaller parties. The Catalan party Junts voted with the opposition, arguing that the measures would further reduce the number of available homes.

The bill provided for a ban on evicting vulnerable tenants until 2030, a two-year freeze on existing rents, and stricter rules for short-term rentals. The opposition says housing does not become cheaper through decrees, but through the construction of new homes.

Meanwhile, protests have intensified in Madrid. Demonstrators have set up tents in several cities and chanted, “your profits, our misery.” The Tenants’ Union has announced new rallies for Saturday. Rents have doubled over the past decade, reaching nearly 1,200 euros per month. The Spanish press reports that Sánchez could call early elections in November if he fails to find a parliamentary solution.