Government Negotiates Housing Measures After Eviction Protests
Listen to the story
The Spanish government has made its first move after strong protests over the eviction of a woman known as Maricarmen.
It is now negotiating with the Catalan party Junts about new housing measures.
The talks include a possible suspension of evictions carried out by vulture funds, companies that buy homes and then remove tenants to make a profit.
The government is also discussing a tax break on IRPF, the Spanish income tax, for people who rent out their homes.
This move follows protests that began after Maricarmen was forced out of her home.
She spoke for the first time from the hospital, saying: "I did not manage to defend my home, but I did fight."
Her words have become a symbol of the wider housing crisis in Spain.
Other proposals are also being discussed as part of the negotiations.
One idea is a penalty for landlords who raise rents too much.
Another proposal aims to make it easier to build new housing.
A third key point is stronger protection for tenants, the people who rent their homes.
These points are described as the most sensitive parts of the current housing debate.
The government's talks with Junts show that the protests have had a political impact.
It remains to be seen whether these measures will become official policy.
For now, they represent the government's first concrete response to public anger over evictions.
Vocabulary10 words
- eviction
- forcing someone to leave their home
- negotiating
- talking to reach an agreement
- Junts
- a Catalan political party in Spain
- suspension
- stopping something for a period of time
- vulture funds
- companies that buy properties to make money, often causing evictions
- tax break
- a reduction in the tax someone must pay
- IRPF
- the Spanish tax on personal income
- penalty
- a punishment, often a payment
- protection
- measures that keep someone safe from harm
- tenants
- people who pay to live in a home owned by someone else
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Protests over Maricarmen's eviction 2. A tax break on IRPF for people who rent out homes 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The Spanish government has made its first move after strong protests over the _____ of a woman known as Maricarmen.
It is now _____ with the Catalan party Junts about new housing measures.
The talks include a possible _____ of evictions carried out by vulture funds.
The government is also discussing a _____ on IRPF for people who rent out their homes.
She spoke for the first time from the hospital, saying: "I did not manage to defend my home, but I did _____."
One idea is a _____ for landlords who raise rents too much.
Another proposal aims to make it easier to build new _____.
A third key point is stronger protection for _____, the people who rent their homes.
The government's talks with Junts show that the protests have had a political _____.
For now, they represent the government's first concrete _____ to public anger over evictions.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think the government acted only after the protests, not before?
- Do you think penalizing landlords for raising rent is a fair solution? Why or why not?
- How might vulture funds affect ordinary renters in a city?
- What responsibility do governments have to protect tenants from eviction?
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