Spanish Government Faces Parliamentary Crisis After Social Shield Rejection

The political situation in Spain has sharply intensified following Thursday's vote in the Congress of Deputies. The ruling socialist coalition (PSOE) failed to push through the extension of the anti-crisis package, known as the "social shield." Not only did the right-wing parties PP and Vox vote against the bill, but so did the Catalan separatists from the Junts party, which Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described as a painful blow to the stability of the state. The lack of support for the decree has direct consequences for thousands of households. It is estimated that around 70,000 families could face immediate eviction due to the expiration of the moratorium on evicting tenants in difficult living situations. The Junts party, informally led by Carles Puigdemont, has played the role of kingmaker in the Spanish parliament since the 2023 elections, forcing the government to make concessions in exchange for support on key legislation.The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, announced that the government is "tireless in pursuing its goal" and is considering "splitting" the decree into smaller legislative initiatives. This would allow for the re-voting of the least controversial points, such as IRPF tax relief for the purchase of electric vehicles or support for the agricultural sector affected by severe weather phenomena in Castilla-La Mancha. At the same time, PSOE has sharpened its rhetoric against Junts, accusing the party of voting side by side with formations that seek its delegalization. In turn, Junts spokesperson Míriam Nogueras accused the cabinet of starting an "ideological battle" instead of real dialogue about the needs of Catalonia. Parallel to the parliamentary crisis, a cultural debate has erupted in Spanish municipalities. Councilors in Toledo and Palma de Mallorca, with the support of PP and Vox, voted to ban the wearing of burqas and niqabs in public spaces and on public transport. A similar initiative, however, was rejected by the Barcelona city council. The situation is further complicated by additional tensions on the right — former Prime Minister José María Aznar warned against the "right-wing populism" of the Vox party, while PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo must contend with attempts to summon Minister Montero before a Senate investigative committee regarding irregularities in the SEPI company. „El Gobierno ha convertido la votación sobre cuestiones sociales en un chantaje político, ignorando la especificidad regional.” (The Government has turned the vote on social issues into political blackmail, ignoring regional specificity.) — Míriam Nogueras