Congress voted 178 to 172 to reject the government's housing decree-law, with PP, Vox, Junts and UPN opposed. The repeal removes eviction protections for vulnerable tenants, automatic extensions of expiring rental contracts, and limits on investment funds buying homes below 70% of their appraised market value. The decree had been in force for only 24 hours.
Spain added 92,327 Social Security contributors in September, a record for September, reaching 22,437,553 contributors. Of about 90,000 new contributors, 84,220 were foreigners, driven by the migrant regularization process. Registered unemployment rose by 23,587 to 2,379,505, the lowest since September 2007.
Pedro Sánchez will spend this weekend analyzing the defeat of both housing decree-laws and public reaction before deciding whether to call early general elections. An early vote would freeze pending housing, residency and tax measures and reshape the legislative calendar for foreign residents.
A Sigma Dos poll for El Mundo finds that 65.1% agree with the Supreme Court's precautionary suspension of the Ley de Nietos; 45% of PSOE voters view it favorably. The suspended law would have allowed descendants of Spaniards who left between 1936 and 1955 to apply for nationality and voting rights, potentially adding more than 500,000 new voters.
Royal Decree-law 26/2026 would have changed IRPF taxation of empty second homes from 2027, but Congress rejected it on October 2 — the changes will not take effect. Owners keep paying tax on imputed income at 2% of cadastral value (1,1% in some cases), with no new IBI surcharges.
A poll by Ateneo del Dato for El Diario finds that 73% of Spaniards would support a general strike over housing, including more than 60% of PP and Vox voters. The Sindicato de Inquilinas called the strike; Comisiones Obreras and UGT are considering backing it, with mass mobilizations planned this weekend.
Eurozone annual inflation rose to 3.8% in September, the highest since September 2023, according to Eurostat's flash estimate. Energy prices climbed 18.8% and core inflation reached 2.5%. Spain posted the largest rise among major EU economies at 4.6%, adding pressure on ECB rates and Euribor.
New retirees in August began receiving an average retirement pension of 1,711.4 euros a month, while the system-wide average reached 1,374.6 euros in September, up 4.6% year-on-year. General scheme workers average 1,734.7 euros, while autónomos (self-employed) average 1,062.8 euros.
Torrential rain in the Mediterranean region dropped more than 200 litres per square metre, suspending classes for over 400,000 students in Valencia. Around 20 people were rescued from vehicles in Tarragona and Murcia; in Terres de l'Ebre water rose to the height of rear-view mirrors. Alerts remain active until at least Sunday.
From October 1, drivers must yield to pedestrians even where there is no zebra crossing on calles de plataforma única, where the pavement and road are at the same level. The rule is part of Real Decreto 518/2026, published in the BOE, and includes new rules for scooters and motorcyclists.
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