Spain Approves Housing Measures

Spain’s government approved urgent housing measures after Parliament rejected similar emergency measures the previous week. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez then called an early general election for Nov. 29. The move comes as rising costs and a housing shortage have made homes harder to afford. Protests spread after the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her Madrid home. Protesters have demanded stronger tenant protections, action against fraud and no evictions without alternative housing. Sánchez said housing was common sense, not ideology. The package extends protections for vulnerable people until 2030 and creates a 10 billion euro loan fund. The measures still need ratification by an interim 69-member legislative commission.