Spain Approves New Emergency Housing Measures After Prior Rejection

Spain's government approved two extraordinary decrees on Tuesday to address the country's housing crisis. This decision follows Monday night's protests in Barcelona, where tens of thousands demonstrated, with some radical activists clashing with police.

The protests demanded solutions to a crisis triggered by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman in central Madrid. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government approved measures similar to housing reforms that parliament rejected last Friday, a legislative loss that led Sanchez to call early elections for November 29. Sanchez stated the 21 measures in the new decrees included some very positive additions to the unsuccessful proposed laws.

These measures will be sent for ratification to an interim legislative body, the standing commission, composed of 69 of parliament's 350 members. Political science professor Alejandro Quiroga noted this is a constitutional and important political step for Sanchez. Additionally, speculative purchases of real estate will be banned, and tax exemptions will be granted to landlords.