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Spanish parliament rejects housing measures as snap election speculation mounts over Sánchez defeat

From the Newshound archive · first published 2 October 2026 · last updated 3 October 2026.

Pedro Sánchez faces snap election speculation after parliament rejected his coalition's emergency housing decrees, with angry protesters chanting "your profits, our misery" outside Congress.
Pedro Sánchez faces snap election speculation after parliament rejected his coalition's emergency housing decrees, with angry protesters chanting "your profits, our misery" outside Congress.

Spain's parliament has voted down two emergency housing decrees put forward by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's Socialist-led coalition, dealing him a crushing legislative defeat that has sparked immediate speculation about a snap general election. Angry protesters outside Congress chanted 'your profits, our misery' as the results were announced. The government will reportedly spend the weekend deciding whether to dissolve parliament.

The housing row was triggered by the eviction of Maricarmen Abascal, 87, wheelchair-bound, from a Madrid flat where she had spent 70 years of her life, following a 230% rent hike.

The People's Party, far-right Vox and Catalan separatist party Junts combined to defeat the decrees by 178 votes to 172 and 184 to 166 respectively.

Sánchez warned lawmakers before the vote that 'history will judge you, and sooner than you think' — but failed to win over enough opposition members.

MoreBBC NewsSpanish PM Sánchez loses key housing crisis vote after eviction of woman, 87The GuardianSpanish right wing votes down housing crisis plans as protest movement growsFinancial TimesPedro Sánchez loses vote on Spanish housing reformReutersSpain faces more fury over housing after parliament rejects decreeAPSpain’s government dealt a blow after parliament rejects housing measures amid protestsIrish TimesSpanish right-wing politicians defeat housing crisis plan as protest movement growsThe HeraldSpain’s parliament rejects housing measures amid street protestsFinancial TimesThe right and wrong lessons to learn from Spain’s housing crisisThe TimesSpain braces for snap election as Pedro Sánchez loses key votesYahoo News UKSpain's government dealt blow as lawmakers reject housing bills
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