03.45 - Spain Today News 9 October 2026

🇪🇸 Spain Today News SummaryPublic Backing for Housing Intervention and ReformRecent official survey data reveals that 76% of Spaniards favor state intervention in the housing market as much as necessary to ensure access, with 87% expressing deep concern over current market conditions. Housing has remained the country's top concern in surveys continuously since December 2024. Key measures receiving strong public backing include a 95.4% approval for tax cuts on first-time home purchases, 91.4% support for constructing more public housing, and 70.6% support for two-year rent freezes. Additionally, 40% of citizens support expropriating vacant properties. Meanwhile, a new housing decree has taken effect, extending expiring lease agreements for two years and pausing evictions of vulnerable tenants in properties owned by investment funds.Mass Demonstrations Following the Death of Evicted ResidentOver 20,000 protesters marched from Madrid's Puerta del Sol to the home of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, who passed away in hospital two weeks after being evicted from the home she had inhabited for seven decades. Her eviction on 23 September after a legal dispute with real estate firm Urbagestión ignited nationwide outrage, leading to square encampments and mobilizations across Spain. Organized by groups including the Tenants' Union, demonstrators established memorial altars and called for structural housing reform. The social unrest contributed to the announcement of snap general elections for 29 November and a general strike planned for 11 November.Supreme Court Strikes Down Private University DecreeSpain's Supreme Court has annulled Royal Decree 905/2025, a government regulation designed to tighten standards for establishing new private universities. The tribunal ruled that the Council of Ministers failed to legally justify the urgent legislative procedure, thereby improperly omitting required public consultation steps. In response, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pledged to introduce a new regulation to protect public higher education from commercial exploitation.Jon Rahm Abandons Saudi-Backed LIV Golf CircuitSpanish golfer Jon Rahm is departing LIV Golf three years after signing a record $100 million annual contract. Rahm's legal representation described the proposed terms for the restructured "LIV 2.0" as unacceptable following the circuit's bankruptcy filing in New York. Rahm is currently negotiating a formal exit settlement while exploring options to rejoin the PGA Tour and European circuit, mirroring similar exit efforts by golfer Sergio García.