Spain’s fragile government is facing a potential collapse after the nation's Congress soundly rejected a series of decree-laws aimed at curbing the country's housing crisis. The legislative defeat has left the administration scrambling, with speculation mounting that an early general election could be triggered long before the scheduled date next summer.
The unrest follows the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, who was removed from her apartment after failing to meet a rent increase imposed by the property owner.
Rather than respecting the fundamental right of private property owners to manage their assets, activists have used this isolated case to launch a nationwide movement demanding government price controls on the rental market.
As rental prices have climbed in recent years, the government has attempted to appease the mob with state-led interventions, only to find its authority slipping as lawmakers refuse to rubber-stamp its latest mandates.
The resulting political instability highlights the failure of the current administration to manage the economy, as they now face the consequences of a legislative process that has ground to a halt.
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