Spain: Junts opposes housing decrees as Saiz defends medical leave

In Spain, the political party Junts per Catalunya has announced it will vote against two government housing decrees presented by Pedro Sánchez. The party is demanding the withdrawal of Royal Decree-Law 26/2026 and the drafting of a new text. Junts argues that current measures could reduce rental supply, increase prices, and fail to protect vulnerable tenants from vulture funds.

Separately, Minister of Inclusion and Social Security Elma Saiz addressed business leaders regarding the rise in medical leaves. She stated that “a medical leave is not absenteeism and cannot be equated with fraud,” urging companies to invest more in workplace risk prevention.

During the same discussions, Pimec President Antoni Cañete expressed reservations regarding housing policies, noting that while protecting the vulnerable is positive, the responsibility for social policy should not be indefinitely transferred to small property owners.