Spanish lawmakers reject government housing measure amid protests

Spain's parliament rejected emergency government decrees aimed at addressing the country's housing crisis, after hundreds of protesters gathered outside in Madrid. The measures, which included banning evictions for vulnerable tenants until 2030 and extending rental lease agreements, were defeated due to opposition from right-wing parties like the People’s party, far-right Vox, and the Catalan pro-independence Junts party. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's minority government, relying on support from smaller parties, failed to secure enough votes: the first decree was rejected by 178 votes to 172, and the second by 184 to 166. The crisis intensified after Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman, was evicted from her Madrid apartment, leading to widespread protests across Spain. Sanchez urged lawmakers to "do the right thing," but the defeat has increased speculation that he might call for early elections, which were not scheduled until next summer.