MADRID (AP) — Spain’s government is expected to approve urgent measures on the country's housing crisis on Tuesday, after an outbreak of violence the night before in the coastal city of Barcelona saw tens of thousands taking to the streets.
The Barcelona turmoil late Monday followed protests across the country over the weekend that demanded measures to resolve a crisis sparked by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid, the country's capital.
In Barcelona, Spain’s second-largest city, a severe weather alert over the weekend had forced organizers to reschedule the protest for Monday. What began as a massive peaceful march turned violent when groups of hundreds of hardcore activists clashed with police, throwing stones and setting fire to trash containers.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez 's government is expected to approve measures similar to those rejected by Parliament last Friday, which prompted his call for early elections on Nov. 29, media reports said.
If approved, the government would send the measures for ratification by an interim legislature which remains active until the elections. Sánchez is to hold a news conference about the developments later Tuesday.
The new measures are to extend protection against evictions for vulnerable Spaniards until 2030, regulate room rentals, impose a new tax on seasonal rentals, ban speculative real estate purchases and give tax breaks to landlords, Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez told reporters last week.
Rising costs and a housing shortage are pricing many Spaniards out of the housing market, despite strong economic growth in Europe’s fourth-largest economy. The protesters have been demanding stronger protections for tenants, measures to combat fraud and a ban on evictions when alternative housing is unavailable.
