First modification: 10/02/2026 - 14:45 Last modification: 10/02/2026 - 23:21

The Congress of Deputies of Spain voted this Friday, October 2, against the first of two crucial decrees in the midst of the housing crisis, experienced for years, but which recently raised a wave of protests after the eviction of an 87-year-old woman. The collapse of the measures in the Legislature was already foreseen given that the right-wing parties: Junts and PP, as well as the far-right Vox bench, anticipated that they would vote against. In the midst of this panorama, leaders of the ruling PSOE party advocate for early elections.

The essentials:

Below, the main news from this Friday, October 2, regarding the housing crisis in Spain after Congress's rejection of two decrees to try to alleviate the problem, a panorama under which members of the Government urge an early election:

Spain: camping continues in Madrid after Congress rejects housing decrees

The camping at Puerta del Sol in Madrid will continue after Congress rejected this Friday the two decrees promoted by the Government to face the housing crisis, announced a spokeswoman for the Tenants' Union. The Junts, PP and Vox parties had already anticipated that they would vote against the measures.

In images: the camping continues in Madrid while protests are called in dozens of cities due to the housing crisis

A protester holds a banner with the slogan "Fair rents now" during a protest at Puerta del Sol, following a parliamentary vote on two government decrees approved this week by the Council of Ministers - which include a package of social and housing measures, such as protection against evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030 - in Madrid, Spain, October 2, 2026. Reuters/Alejandro Martínez Vélez.

Protesters camp at Puerta del Sol demanding political measures to stop evictions and address the housing crisis, following the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her home, in Madrid, Spain, October 2, 2026. Reuters/Alejandro Martínez Vélez.

A protester holds her keys during a protest at Puerta del Sol in Madrid, Spain, on October 2, 2026, following a parliamentary vote on two government decrees approved this week by the Council of Ministers that include a package of social and housing measures, including protection against evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030. Reuters/Alejandro Martínez Vélez.

The Madrid camp maintains the protest after the rejection of the housing decrees

The camping at Puerta del Sol in Madrid will continue after Congress rejected this Friday the two decrees promoted by the Government to confront the housing crisis, announced Alicia del Río, spokesperson for the Tenants' Union. Del Río assured that the mobilization has generated an “outbreak of popular power” that, in his opinion, is “unstoppable,” and called to maintain the protests and participate in the demonstrations called this weekend. The parliamentary rejection occurred with the votes against the PP, Vox and Junts.

One of its main triggers for the protest was the eviction of Maricarmen, an 87-year-old woman with a 50% disability, which occurred last week in Madrid. The case became a symbol of social unrest that had accumulated for years and that has resulted in camping out in squares in different Spanish cities. From Puerta del Sol, Del Río maintained that the mobilization opens “a new political cycle” and affirmed that it is time to do “politics from the street,” while criticizing both the right-wing parties that rejected the decrees and the left-wing formations for not having resolved the housing problem.

Social organizations also reacted to the result of the vote. Amnesty International described the rejection as a “clear setback” for the right to housing and warned, according to its spokesperson Ana Gómez, that Spain will continue to fail to comply with its international obligations while millions of people face difficulties in accessing housing. Oxfam Intermón considered, for its part, that Congress missed an opportunity to modify housing policies and respond to a crisis that, in the words of its housing officer, Alejandro García-Gil, has become a “social emergency” and one of the main drivers of inequality.

Spain: Sánchez evaluates whether to advance elections after the collapse of housing decrees in Congress

The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, opened a period of reflection this Friday, October 2, in which he will evaluate over the weekend whether to call early elections or not, according to Moncloa sources cited by the local press. The movement came amid echoes of electoral advancement due to the rejection in the Congress of Deputies of the two housing decrees presented by the Government to try to alleviate the housing crisis throughout the country. The measures collapsed after votes against the right-wing parties, PP and Junts per Catalunya, as well as the far-right party, Vox.

Outrage and protests in Puerta del Sol, in Madrid, after rejection of housing decrees with the no from right-wing parties

Pedro Sánchez will decide this weekend whether or not to advance the elections: Moncola sources, cited by the Spanish press

"Today the PP, Vox and Junts have made a serious mistake and they will pay for this error at the polls": Minister of Social Rights

"Because there is a majority of right-wing society that lives in the autonomous communities and that can't take it anymore (...) Anyone with common sense does not tolerate those who ask to stop the evictions, it is an oligarchy that is making money at the expense of the land and the rights of Spanish society, but in this legislature, by sky, sea and land, we will continue working until what the right has not allowed today, becomes a reality," highlights the Minister of Social Rights, Pablo Bustinduy.

"We have an extreme right that has been dividing society for too long and saying that the culprits are migrants or feminists, enough is enough, it's a circus": Tenants' Union

"If there are no politicians in there who govern for the people, we are clear that time for politicians is over, but that does not mean that politics is over, we will continue on the streets," he emphasizes.

"The doors are opening to fascism and the extreme right": Valeria Racu, tenant union after collapse of housing decrees

"Spain has a Congress kidnapped by rentiers and vulture funds, a right kneeled by speculation, legislates and votes against its own voters, its own voters are urging that the market be intervened, which is already intervened, but not in favor of the people, but rather in favor of the vulture funds," he adds.

"Call elections, let the Spaniards speak": Feijóo insists on his call to call early elections

"No decree has been voted to help Maricarmen or anyone, just an excuse for Pedro Sánchez, it is electoral calculation": Feijóo

"It is designed with polls in mind, I do not participate in this way of doing politics, but I accept the challenge. If the president tries to call elections, go ahead, he believes he has an alibi, let him set a date," says Feijóo.

"At least it guarantees that the housing situation is not worse than yesterday, although it does not mean that it will be better tomorrow": Feijóo justifies rejection of the housing decrees

"It is unacceptable to use the issue of housing to make electoral maneuvers, it is not there to cover up the Government's actions in Ceuta and hide Zapatero's jewels. The life projects of millions of Spaniards are not there to cover up the greatest corruption that has ever affected a Spanish Government": Feijóo justifies his vote against, and of the right en bloc, which sank the two decrees presented by the Government to try to alleviate the housing crisis.

"In Spain there are many evictions every day and now they use this for a political campaign": Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right party Vox

Congress of Deputies of Spain rejects the second decree and the measures on the housing crisis sink

With 166 votes in favor and 184 against – among 350 members – the Congress of Deputies rejects the second decree and thus disapproves the two measures presented by the Government to try to alleviate the housing crisis that affects thousands of citizens throughout the country.

"General strike now!": activists in Madrid march and urge a larger protest after the collapse of the first housing decree in Congress

Hundreds of people demonstrate in the vicinity of Congress, where this Friday at noon the vote on the two housing decrees approved by the Government takes place and which, barring any surprise, will not go ahead. EFE/ Sergio Pérez.

The vote on the second housing decree takes place, after the rejection of the first

They announce protests for tomorrow, Saturday, in 50 cities and call for a general strike after the collapse of the first housing decree in Congress

Spain: the Congress of Deputies votes against the first housing decree

With 172 votes in favor and 178 against, among 350 members, the right-wing bloc PP, Junts and Vox, sink the first decree presented by the Government to try to alleviate the housing crisis in the country.

The leader of the opposition, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, of the Popular Party (PP), votes against the two decrees that seek to alleviate the housing crisis in Spain

Tenants Union announces that it is withdrawing from the Sol camp starting tomorrow, Saturday, after a week of demonstration

It is still pending what decision will be made by the rest of the protesters who, for the moment, continue camping in front of the headquarters of the Government of the Community of Madrid. In Spain, local governments have direct powers in various matters, including housing management, one of the country's biggest problems.

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