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Spain approves eviction ban to 2030 after protests over 87-year-old's eviction

Spain's coalition government approved housing decrees, including an eviction ban until 2030, after protests over the removal of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid home. The decrees need parliamentary approval, and Junts objects to parts of them.

8 outlets · 3L · 4C · 1R First reported Account updated

Updated (version 5). New coverage since the last version from NPR.

Image: France 24
Image: The Independent
Image: Irish Independent
Image: South China Morning Post
Image: Al Jazeera
Image: NPR

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The story, neutrally told

Spain's coalition government approved new housing measures on Tuesday, including a ban on evictions until 2030, after protests set off by the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid home. Health Minister Mónica García said the package also rolls over rental contracts until 2028, tightens rules on short-term and room rentals, and bans investment firms from buying housing. The measures are split into two decrees, and a parliamentary vote is hoped for on Friday. Minister Pablo Bustinduy called automatic contract renewals the "final sticking point", which sits in the second decree.

The minority government needs the support of the Catalan party Junts. Its spokesperson Míriam Nogueras said putting small owners in the same category as investment funds "is a mistake". Abascal's lawyer, Beatriz Duro, said the owner, Urbagestión, offered a deal letting her return home and pay 30% of her pension for eight years, about €500 a month. Reports differ on the deal's status: the BBC says Abascal is yet to sign, The Independent says she is considering it, while NPR and SCMP say she accepted. Urbagestión did not respond to requests for comment.

Protests spread from Madrid to cities including Barcelona, Seville, Malaga and Cadiz. Madrid's tenants' union criticised the split into two decrees and said encampments would continue until its full demands were met. The decrees take effect at once but need Congress approval within 30 days. Similar measures were blocked earlier this year, in April according to the BBC and late July according to NPR.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left3 outlets

Framing
Stresses the human and structural story: the tenants' union win, investment-fund ownership and the limits of the package.
Emphasis
Tenants' union, protesters' demands, the fund's rent rise, and doubts the measures go far enough.
Leaves out or plays down
Al Jazeera omits the Junts objection detail; NPR does not quote Junts.
Charged language
“historic win”“vulture funds”
For example
“The package falls short of the protesters’ demands” — Al Jazeera
“It remains to be seen if they go far enough to appease protesters.” — NPR
“is currently considering an offer to return to her home” — The Independent

Centre4 outlets

Framing
Political-process framing: the government's decrees, the parliamentary hurdle and Junts's objections, with the pensioner's deal alongside.
Emphasis
Cabinet measures, minority-government arithmetic, Junts and housing statistics.
Leaves out or plays down
Little on the fund's rent history or alleged tourist-rental motive.
Charged language
“vulture funds”
For example
“The question now is whether the social momentum generated by the Maricarmen Abascal case will override such reservations” — BBC News
“the minority government faces an uphill battle to secure support in a fragmented” — South China Morning Post

Right1 outlet

Framing
Headline-level coverage leads with the government's move to ban evictions and the offered deal for the woman.
Emphasis
The eviction ban until 2030 and the offer to return home.
Leaves out or plays down
No detail on Junts, small landlords or the protesters' criticism appears in the coverage.
Charged language
“ousted”
For example
“Spain moves to ban evictions until 2030 as ousted elderly woman offered deal to return to her home” — Irish Independent