Spain's government agrees housing decrees after 87-year-old's eviction prompts protests
Spain's minority government approved two housing decrees after the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid flat drew protests. Both face a parliamentary vote on Friday, and outlets differ on how they present the measures and their critics.
Updated (version 2). New coverage since the last version from Al Jazeera, The Straits Times. Previously: “Spain approves housing decrees after 87-year-old's eviction prompts protests”.
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The story, neutrally told
Spain's coalition government said on Tuesday 29 September it had agreed new housing measures after the removal of 87-year-old Maria del Carmen 'Maricarmen' Abascal from her Madrid flat sparked protests. Deutsche WelleN “Spain's coalition government on Tuesday said it has agreed new measures to tackle the country's housing crisis” Read at Deutsche Welle ↗ Health Minister Monica Garcia of the junior partner Sumar said the package includes a ban on evictions until 2030, tighter short-term rental rules and a two-year extension of existing leases. Deutsche WelleN “a ban on evictions until 2030, tighter rules for short-term rentals and a two-year extension for existing leases” Read at Deutsche Welle ↗ The measures are split into two decrees. The first was published in the state gazette on Wednesday and takes effect Thursday; it restricts firms that buy property as a business from purchasing homes below 70% of appraised value until the end of 2028, and caps most rent rises at 2% through 2027. Anadolu AgencyN “purchasing homes for less than 70% of their appraised market value until the end of 2028”“increases may not exceed 2% without a new agreement between the landlord and tenant” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Anadolu describes the eviction measure as a suspension through 2030 of certain evictions involving vulnerable people without alternative housing; a second decree would automatically renew rental contracts. Anadolu AgencyN “suspension through 2030 of certain evictions involving vulnerable people without alternative housing”“automatic renewal of rental contracts” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Abascal's father rented the Retiro flat in the 1950s. Al Jazeera, citing El País, says the owner, Urbagestion, raised her rent from €500 to €2,650 and evicted her on the fourth attempt on 23 September. Al JazeeraLC “raising her rent from 500 euros ($572) to 2,650 euros ($3,010)”“on their fourth attempt on September 23” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Reuters reports a deal with Urbagestion lets her stay with unchanged rent; she remains in hospital but is expected home in the coming days. Al Jazeera cites her lawyer describing a preliminary agreement under which she would pay 30% of her pension. The Straits TimesRC “to let her stay in the apartment with unchanged rent” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Al JazeeraLC “paying 30 percent of her pension over the next eight years” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Protesters camped in Madrid's Puerta del Sol and in Malaga; Reuters says many activists think the measures fall short and that Madrid's Tenants' Union called them partly 'crumbs' but also a 'historic victory'. The Straits TimesRC “described some of the measures as "crumbs", although it also called the government's move a "historic victory"” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “A parallel camp continued Wednesday in Malaga’s Plaza de la Constitucion” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez leads a minority government, so both decrees need an extraordinary ratification vote on Friday; Congress rejected a similar decree 177-166 in April. Anadolu AgencyN “Congress voted 177-166 against validating it” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Deutsche WelleN “he is still dependent on votes from a number of other parties” Read at Deutsche Welle ↗ Opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo said the Popular Party would vote against, calling the package a 'trap'; Junts, whose votes are needed, said small landlords were left 'out in the cold'. Anadolu AgencyN “calling the package a “trap.”” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Al JazeeraLC “left “small landlords out in the cold”” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Reuters also reports that Urbagestion co-owner Ricardo Alonso said he and his partner faced a pressure campaign, including a box of live cockroaches. The Straits TimesRC “had faced a pressure campaign over the eviction, citing the delivery of a box containing live cockroaches” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Analytical explainer asking whether the decree is a fix, setting the government's 'savage speculation' framing against critics from Junts, the PP and an academic.
- Emphasis
- Inequality in property wealth, housing costs, small landlords, and the ministers' rhetoric against 'vulture funds'.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not cover the decree's specific provisions, such as the 70% purchase threshold and 2% rent cap, or the continuing camps.
- Charged language
- “savage speculation”“vulture funds”
- For example
-
“The government blames 'savage speculation' as critics say new measures leave small landlords 'out in the cold'.” — Al Jazeera
““And if they don’t, may it cost them dearly,” she added.” — Al Jazeera
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Straightforward reporting of the government's announcement and the published decree, with provisions and the parliamentary risk.
- Emphasis
- Decree contents, the Friday vote, the April defeat, Feijoo's opposition.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Give little on critics within the protest movement or on small-landlord concerns.
- Charged language
- “vulture funds”“sweeping”
- For example
-
“Spain published a sweeping housing decree Wednesday introducing new protections for tenants and restrictions on property investors” — Anadolu Agency
“between citizens and vulture funds” — Deutsche Welle
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Wire report from the protest camps, stressing that activists think the measures fall short and suspect the two-decree split.
- Emphasis
- Activists' doubts, another eviction blocked near Valencia, and the landlord's claim of a pressure campaign.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives little on decree provisions other than the eviction ban, or on opposition parties' stances.
- Charged language
- “crumbs”
- For example
-
“Many activists said even those measures fell short of tackling the crisis.” — The Straits Times
“just to sneak one through by the skin of its teeth” — The Straits Times
What every side reports
- An 87-year-old woman, Maricarmen Abascal, was evicted from her Madrid home last week, prompting protests.
- The government's package includes eviction protections until 2030.
- The decrees face a parliamentary vote on Friday in which the minority government needs other parties' support.
- Protest camps continued in Madrid's Puerta del Sol.
Where accounts differ
-
Scope of the eviction measure
- Left
- Al Jazeera says the measures ban evictions until 2030.
- Centre
- DW calls it a ban on evictions until 2030; Anadolu says it suspends certain evictions involving vulnerable people without alternative housing.
- Right
- Reuters (Straits Times) says a ban on evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030.
-
Effect on small landlords
- Left
- Al Jazeera gives prominent space to critics, including Junts and an academic, who say small landlords are lumped with large funds.
- Centre
- Anadolu notes exemptions and Feijoo's 'trap' criticism but does not address small landlords directly.
- Right
- Reuters does not cover the small-landlord issue; it reports activists saying the measures do not go far enough.
-
The government's housing package bans or suspends evictions until 2030.
Reported- Reports 4
- Al Jazeera, Anadolu Agency, Deutsche Welle, The Straits Times
-
The decrees need parliamentary approval in a Friday vote that the minority government may not win.
Reported- Reports 4
- Al Jazeera, Anadolu Agency, Deutsche Welle, The Straits Times
-
Maricarmen Abascal is to return to her home under an agreement with her landlord.
Reported- Reports 3
- Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, The Straits Times
Spain place
The government presents the decrees as a response to speculation; Garcia framed parliamentary approval as a choice between citizens and 'vulture funds', while the opposition and Junts object to parts of the package.
“either they’re with the citizens, or they’re with the foreign vulture funds” — Al Jazeera
““Don’t count on me to rip off anyone,”” — Anadolu Agency
Housing crisis topic
Coverage treats the housing crisis as the backdrop: rising prices and rents, renters spending large income shares on housing, and a shortage of supply.
“28.1 percent of people renting a home at market rates were spending more than 40 percent of their disposable income on housing” — Al Jazeera
“soaring rents, gentrification and a shortage of affordable housing” — The Straits Times
Left1 article
-
Is Spain’s anti-eviction decree a fix for its housing crisis?
Mixed Explainer weighing the government's case against criticism from small-landlord defenders and an academic.
Centre2 articles
-
Spain agrees on measures to fix housing crisis, ban eviction
Neutral Reports the government's announcement and Abascal's background, noting the minority-government hurdle.
-
Spain publishes sweeping housing decree as protests continue
Neutral Detailed decree rundown with protest and vote context, including Feijoo's opposition.
Right1 article
-
The Straits TimesRC · · via Reuters
Protesters camped out across Spain demand passage of housing measures
Mixed Protest-camp report emphasising activists' scepticism, alongside the landlord's account of harassment.
- 29 Sep 13:01 First Deutsche WelleN Spain agrees on measures to fix housing crisis, ban eviction
- 30 Sep 12:19 +23h 19m Anadolu AgencyN Spain publishes sweeping housing decree as protests continue
- 30 Sep 14:13 +25h 13m The Straits TimesRC Protesters camped out across Spain demand passage of housing measures via Reuters
- 30 Sep 15:40 +26h 39m Al JazeeraLC Is Spain’s anti-eviction decree a fix for its housing crisis?
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.