Only 91 of 31,390 reviewed files had yielded voting certificates by October 21. The Supreme Court orders the government to name 163,020 people affected by the Ley de Nietos voting suspension by 15:00 on October 28. Overseas election mailings start October 24; affected voters need proof of descent from exiles to vote on November 29.
Banks are raising mortgage prices and tightening lending as higher home prices slow sales. The average rate on new mortgages reached 3.01% in July, up from 2.96% in June. The 12-month Euribor is at its highest since August 2024, adding pressure on borrowers.
Consumer Affairs has asked two portals to remove up to 8,300 tourist-flat ads presented as seasonal rentals. Rules already being applied under the October 6 housing decree set a 30-day maximum for tourist rentals and a 31-day minimum for seasonal lets. Most of the 8,318 illegal ads detected are in the Madrid region.
Cabinet-approved Royal Decree-laws 28/2026 and 29/2026 would set IRPF (personal income tax) reductions on net rental income at 15% to 100% for leases signed from December 1, 2026. The rate would depend on the rent asked, the tenant, and the area. Landlords' choices when signing would determine their tax treatment.
Social Security has yet to approve 2027 contribution tables or convene talks with self-employed groups. The election call threatens to leave the review required under the 2022 agreement in limbo. Advisers expect current brackets to continue, but warn workers to budget for a possible retroactive rise.
Home prices rose 108% between 2013 and 2026, while average wages rose 30%, according to a CC OO union report. Madrid recorded a 142% price rise against 34% wage growth. Unions want housing included in wage talks.
Royal Decree-law 31/2026, in force since October 21, lets some people seek reinstatement of a widow's or other contributory pension suspended under old rules preventing them from receiving both. Applicants must still meet the other eligibility requirements and apply by October 21, 2027.
The Audiencia Nacional has applied the amnesty law to 12 Catalan CDR activists accused of terrorism and closed their case. Judges said the acts fell within the law and did not amount to serious human rights violations. The decision follows the EU Court of Justice's ruling upholding the law three months earlier.
Anti-corruption prosecutors say former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero may have committed embezzlement of public funds. They say he accepted valuable jewels from Saudi Arabia and did not hand them to the state heritage office. Their assessment concerns a possible offence, not a court ruling.
Law 4/2026 took effect on October 23, excluding some personal-damage compensation from income tests for non-contributory pensions. The exclusion covers amounts legally recognised or set by a court, but not amounts paid after a ruling or agreement. It may help recipients qualify for or keep a pension.
The National Health System's Interterritorial Council approved a draft order on October 23 to extend breast cancer screening from ages 50–69 to 45–74. Regions would phase in the change, starting within three years of entry into force. Coverage in the new age groups should approach 100% within six years.
PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has pledged to exempt the minimum wage from IRPF (personal income tax). In practice, people earning the 2026 SMI (minimum wage) of €17,094 gross a year pay nothing, through a €590.89 deduction. Employers withhold tax first, and the Tax Agency refunds it. The deduction shrinks for salaries up to €20,048.
King Felipe VI urged daily care for democracy and its institutions at the Princess of Asturias Awards in Oviedo on October 23. He said democratic commitment does not end with elections and defended the inclusive spirit of the 1978 Constitution. His appeal comes ahead of the November 29 general election.
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