Constitutional Court clears path for Puigdemont's return
Spain's Constitutional Court is expected to extend the amnesty to embezzlement. The decision could remove the basic legal barrier to Carles Puigdemont's return before the elections.
Laws - Page 2 1478 news
Blue license plates mark legal taxis and VTCs in Spain
Since 2018, taxis and VTCs in Spain have been required to display a blue rear license plate. Promoted by the taxi sector, the marker aims to curb illegal operators and show which vehicles are authorized to carry passengers.
Spain cuts the legal deadline for dependency rulings to three months
Ley 4/2026 cuts Spain's legal deadline for deciding dependency applications from six months to three. The reform also revises assessments, ties dependency grades to disability status and widens access to support.
Government to revive housing decrees without cutting protections
Congress rejected both housing decrees on Friday, 2 October. The Government plans to approve revised versions on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, while Ernest Urtasun says tenant protections will stay intact.
Constitutional Court ruling could clear path to amnesty for procés embezzlement
The Tribunal Constitucional is due to rule Tuesday on a basic amnesty appeal. Its decision could set binding guidance for the Supreme Court and remove the legal barrier facing Puigdemont and other fugitive leaders.
Pedro Sánchez calls early elections, dissolves Spanish Parliament
Pedro Sánchez has set Spain on the path to early general elections by dissolving the Cortes. The move, grounded in the Spanish Constitution, hands the decision to voters and reshapes the country’s legislative cycle.
Spanish cities gain power to charge higher parking fees for large cars
From October 2026, Spanish municipalities can set parking fees based on car size and environmental rating. There is no automatic price hike for SUVs, but local councils may choose to charge more for larger or more polluting vehicles.
Madrid and Barcelona push for near zero alcohol limit on Spanish roads
Spain’s top traffic official says Madrid and Barcelona city halls have formally requested a sharp reduction in the legal blood alcohol limit for drivers. Under the proposed changes, even a single beer could put a driver over the limit.
Spanish housing showdown puts government on the brink
Spain’s Congress faces a knife-edge vote on two housing decrees that could change tenant protections and market rules. With opposition parties threatening to block them, the result could shake the government and affect thousands at risk of eviction or soaring rents.
Podemos backs both housing decrees as Sánchez seeks Junts vote
Podemos will support both housing decrees in Congress. The government still needs Junts or the PNV to avoid defeat, with the first measure set to suspend evictions for vulnerable households.
Tenants Take the Housing Decrees Fight to Spain's Streets
Tenant unions are mobilising nationwide ahead of Friday's 2 October parliamentary vote. They want both housing decrees approved, with automatic rent renewals and stronger eviction safeguards protected.
Junts Puts Spain's Rental Protections at Risk
Nearly five million rental contracts are caught up in a political dispute. Junts plans to reject the housing decrees unless the Government rewrites the basic text before Friday's vote.
Feijóo would scrap Spain's anti-eviction shield
Alberto Núñez Feijóo's party would repeal the Government's two housing decrees if it reached La Moncloa. Municipal social services would then have to help vulnerable households find another home.
Congress faces decisive housing vote on Friday
Spain's Congress will vote on two housing decrees this Friday. The session begins at 11:00, with results expected around 15:00 after a separate debate on each measure.
Spain Breaks Ranks Over the EU's New Return Rules
EU interior ministers have approved rules intended to speed up deportations. Spain was the only country to vote against them, while Belgium abstained.
Spanish drivers face steep fines for uninsured cars left in private garages
Leaving a car uninsured in a private garage in Spain can trigger fines of up to 3,005 euros and lead to its immobilization or impoundment. Many owners are unaware that insurance remains mandatory even if the car never leaves the garage.
Conde-Pumpido presses Supreme Court for swift amnesty compliance
Cándido Conde-Pumpido is backing urgent amnesty enforcement by the Supreme Court. His draft ruling in the Dolors Bassa case would demand a clear and immediate response.
Spain to End Confusing Traffic Light Overlap for Pedestrians and Drivers
From October 2026, Spanish traffic lights will no longer show flashing amber for vehicles while pedestrians see green. The DGT aims to end this risky overlap and clarify who has the right of way at crossings.
Constitutional Court withholds ruling ahead of amnesty hearing
Spain's Constitutional Court will not preview its ruling on malversación amnesty before the October 6 plenary. The decision could affect Carles Puigdemont's return and guide every judge and court.
Madrid seeks court order to remove Sol housing camp
A 48-hour deadline to remove the Puerta del Sol housing camp has expired. Madrid is now asking the courts to order its immediate dissolution, while the Delegación del Gobierno says police have no grounds to intervene without disturbances.
Portugal enforces heavy fines for missing truck identification
From October 1, Portugal will impose fines of up to 1,220 euros on heavy vehicles without mandatory identification plates. The crackdown affects Spanish transporters but not private cars, clarifying confusion over DGT environmental stickers.
Rent hikes halted for thousands as Spain's new index takes charge
Landlords across Spain are now blocked from raising rents above strict government limits until 2028. A new official index determines whether rent can rise or remains frozen, based on the property's address and features.
Vicente Vallés questions Spain's late housing decree
Spain's Government approved two housing decrees after an agreement between PSOE and Sumar. Vicente Vallés says the measures came too late, and their future still depends on Congress.
Landlords face twelve month payout for ending rental contracts
Spain’s government plans to require landlords to pay tenants at least a year’s rent if they refuse to renew a lease without justified cause. The measure, part of a sweeping housing reform, aims to shift the balance of power in the rental market and could reshape contract negotiations.
Parking Your Car Without Insurance Risks a Heavy Fine in Spain
Spanish law does not let car owners off the hook for insurance just because their vehicle sits unused in a garage. Fines for uninsured vehicles start at 601 euros and can reach 3,005 euros, whether the car moves or not.
Government stalls rental decree as automatic lease extension faces delay
Spain’s government has postponed publication of a basic housing decree that would require landlords to pay large compensation if they decline to renew rental contracts. The delay comes amid political wrangling and mounting pressure from tenant groups demanding stronger protections.
PP blocks Spain France friendship treaty in the Senate
Spain's Senate rejected the treaty by 142 votes to 106, with one abstention, as Emmanuel Macron began his state visit to Madrid. The decision blocks ratification despite the Constitutional Court's approval.
Spain Rejects Friendship Treaty With France
A 142-106 Senate vote blocked the friendship treaty with France, with one abstention. The PP and Vox opposed the deal during Emmanuel Macron's first state visit to Spain, focusing on a clause that would allow ministers from each country to attend the other's cabinet meetings.
PP warns housing decrees put €2.5bn in EU funds at risk
Spain's Partido Popular says the housing package is too weak and too vague. The opposition also warns that €2.5bn in European recovery funds could be lost if promised reforms are not completed.
Arizona targets bikers with strict lane filtering crackdown
Arizona now treats riding a motorcycle between moving cars as reckless driving, with criminal penalties. Spain, by contrast, allows motorcycles to use the shoulder under strict conditions designed to protect riders in traffic jams.
Spain Caps Gas Price Shock for Households and Small Firms
The government has limited the rise in Spain's regulated gas tariff and fixed the price of a butane cylinder at 19.55 euros through 30 June 2027.
PNV draws a line between funds and small landlords
The PNV says it will reject the housing decree if it puts investment funds and small landlords on the same footing. Joseba Díez Antxustegi is calling for calm talks before the government moves ahead.
Permanent rental supply shrinks as seasonal listings surge
Spain has lost 20% of its permanent rental listings in three years. Seasonal homes have more than doubled as rent controls change the choices facing landlords and tenants.
Government races to secure emergency housing package
Spain's government is preparing ten urgent housing measures ahead of Tuesday's cabinet meeting. Pressure has mounted after an elderly woman's eviction and a tent camp appeared in Madrid's Puerta del Sol.
Spain plans primary care access for medication abortion
Spain's Health Ministry will prepare changes to bring medication abortion into primary care. The plan aims to shorten journeys and give women clearer medical support when they choose this method.