Shared ownership plan falls on Comuns abstention
The Catalan Parliament has rejected the Generalitat’s proposed shared home ownership scheme, a central plank of President Salvador Illa’s housing agenda unveiled during the 2026 general policy debate. The measure, which would allow the regional government to co-own 50% of homes with residents over 40 facing affordability barriers, failed to pass due to the abstention of junior coalition partner Comuns. Only the PSC and ERC voted in favour. Junts, the PP, Vox, CUP and Aliança Catalana opposed it, while Comuns withheld support as a political signal. Party sources said the move was intended as a "warning" to the executive, stressing they do not oppose the initiative outright but consider it "insufficient" without progress on prior coalition commitments. Despite the parliamentary setback, Territori Minister Sílvia Paneque confirmed the government will implement the programme anyway, stating it does not require legal changes and that the executive has the "legitimacy" to act unilaterally.
Other housing measures gain cross-party backing
While Illa’s signature plan failed, other elements of his housing agenda advanced. Both ERC and Comuns supported the government’s commitment to add 50,000 affordable public housing units by 2030. The full chamber also approved the urgent housing decree law, which includes provisions for temporary and shared property rights under the Catalan Civil Code, with all groups except PPC supporting its processing as formal legislation. Comuns’ proposal to replicate Spain’s recently approved automatic lease renewal rule was blocked by a PSC abstention. The socialist party justified this by stating the anti-eviction unit promised by Illa is already in procurement, making further action redundant. Junts successfully passed their own resolution distinguishing between vulture funds and small landlords in eviction restrictions, gaining support from PSC and Comuns. However, their motion to censure Illa and demand the resignation of Education and Interior ministers was defeated thanks to votes from ERC, Comuns and PSC.
We have understood it did not make sense to do anything other than abstain,
, Elena Díaz, PSC parliamentary spokesperson, on opposing Comuns’ lease renewal proposal
Political conflict and amnesty resolutions pass
Beyond housing, the Parliament approved a joint ERC-PSC resolution calling for an "extensive consensus" to resolve Catalonia’s political conflict, including a citizen referendum. This aligns with the original investiture agreement between the two parties. The chamber also backed creating a national convention to discuss the issue, though no timeline was set. All groups except PP and Vox endorsed a renewed call for the immediate and full application of the amnesty law. Meanwhile, a Junts resolution affirming Catalonia as a nation was rejected following opposition from PSC and Spanish unionist parties. The session concluded with approval of the 2026 Generalitat budget via the same pro-government majority.
Reported by ara.cat, en.ara.cat, lavanguardia.com, vilaweb.cat, Parlament de Catalunya, ACN, eldiario.es, elnacional.cat, parlament.cat, teleprensa.com, Newsroom Infobae, Ara Cat.
