The Spanish government's urgent housing measures decree, which includes an extension of rental contracts, is set to fail a vote in Madrid. The Basque Nationalist Party (PNB) announced its five deputies would abstain, joining Junts per Catalunya's confirmed 'no' vote.

Maribel Vaquero, PNB spokesperson in the Spanish Congress, made the announcement at a press conference. This abstention, combined with Junts' opposition, means the decree lacks the necessary support to pass.

PNB and Junts Criticise Decree

The PNB criticised the Spanish government for attempting to address housing issues through a decree-law without parliamentary debate. The party also highlighted the text's "lack of legal certainty" and called for "integral plans" to tackle the housing problem.

The decree is scheduled for a vote this evening. If the positions of Junts and the PNB hold, the text will be definitively rejected. While the decree has support from PSOE, Sumar, ERC, Podem, Bildu, Compromís, BNG, and CC, among others, it lacks the decisive votes from Junts and the PNB.

Junts has consistently maintained its opposition to the decree. Last week, Carles Puigdemont's party proposed tax relief for mortgages and rents, aiming to "give breathing room to the middle class." Junts believes the Spanish government had the option to withdraw the decree and consider alternatives.

Sources from Junts explained that the decree presented to the plenary cannot be amended, which is why they will not support it. They stated, "Our housing policies have been made clear."

Sumar Hopes for Last-Minute Agreement

Sumar, which proposed the rental extensions, still hopes for a last-minute agreement to validate the decree. Spokesperson Verónica Martínez Barbero stated she saw a pact as "viable" because "more than 70% of the Spanish population wants it to go ahead."

Spanish Consumer Minister Pablo Bustinduy admitted that "some fiscal measures" proposed by Junts were "acceptable." Despite the differences, the minister believes that a pact could be reached "with the extension in force."

According to Barbero, if the decree does not pass this evening, Sumar expects to reach an agreement with Junts to approve a new text soon.