Episode Details

🇪🇸 Spain Today brings you the key news from Spain on 29 September 2026:1. Government Negotiates Sweeping Housing DecreeSpain's Cabinet meets to finalize a housing decree designed to tackle housing accessibility and prevent speculative displacement. Draft measures include extending the eviction ban for vulnerable households without alternative accommodation through 2028 (with compensation for small landlords), blocking speculative residential purchases by investment funds, tightening seasonal lease rules to stop price-cap evasion, and charging VAT on tourist flats alongside platform fines up to €1 million.Tax reductions up to 100% for landlords who lower rents, a 10% deduction for young renters in high-demand areas, IBI tax surcharges up to 100% on long-term vacant or tourist properties, zero-interest ICO loans for first-home buyers under the "TU CASA" scheme, and permanent protection for social housing stock are also on the table. Left-wing parliamentary allies and coalition partners warn they will not validate an incomplete decree, demanding stricter price controls and automatic contract renewals. Junts and PNV report that agreement remains far off, while conservative opposition leaders criticize the policy as interventionist. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for parliamentary responsibility.2. Housing Protests Hold Firm at Puerta del SolHundreds of demonstrators organized by the Tenant Union remain camped at Madrid's Puerta del Sol. Organizers state they will examine the fine print of the draft before deciding whether to lift the camp, insisting on indefinite rental contracts to give tenants long-term security.3. Judicial Investigation in the Leire Díez CaseNational Court Judge Santiago Pedraz has summoned Badajoz Magistrate Beatriz Biedma to appear as an injured party on 8 October. Biedma, who instructed the case leading to the prevarication conviction of David Sánchez, asked to join the prosecution against an alleged network coordinated by former socialist figures. Civil Guard (UCO) reports indicate the group targeted Biedma in an attempt to discredit her and disrupt judicial proceedings.4. Severe Rainfall Triggers Red Emergency AlertsA severe weather system has prompted red rainfall alerts in northern Cáceres (Extremadura), where 120 litres per square metre fell in 12 hours. Regional authorities in Extremadura and Catalonia issued preventive emergency notifications via the Es-Alert mobile system, while Valencia registered orange alerts and heavy hail. Emergency flood plans have been activated across all affected areas.Follow Spain Today so you don't miss an episode.