Catalonia faces a new political dispute that could rewrite the rules of the real estate market and impact thousands of families. The issue of banning speculative property sales has taken center stage in budget negotiations, and the parliament’s decision will determine not only the fate of this law but also the future of many residents. For the first time in years, the budget debate is so closely linked with social policy and the fight against large investment funds.
The Comuns party’s executive committee, at an extraordinary meeting, put forward tough conditions for continuing budget talks with the Catalan government for 2026. The main demand is to pass a law within six months that would completely ban speculative property sales. Party representatives argue that only this measure can halt the so-called ‘vulture funds,’ which have been buying up apartments for quick resale and driving prices up.
Parliament under pressure
Comuns insist that if parliament fails to adopt the law within the set timeframe, the party will withdraw its support for the budget. The demand has sparked intense reactions in political circles. The leader of the Comuns parliamentary group, Jéssica Albiach, emphasized that this is not about slogans, but about real changes that Catalonia’s residents should feel in daily life. She stated that the budget must be tangible for citizens—in terms of rent payments, access to transportation, and opportunities for children’s education.
The Catalan authorities have already taken the first step: this week, the first fines for violating the housing law were imposed. However, representatives of Comuns believe these measures are insufficient and are calling for the process to be accelerated. At the same time, the government needs to negotiate not only with Comuns, but also with other parties, especially ERC, which is insisting on changes to tax policy.
Social Initiatives
In addition to the law banning speculation, Comuns are demanding an increase in rental assistance funding to 1.2 billion euros. This would support about 50,000 families, which is one fifth of all households in the region. For several years, Catalonia has ranked first in Spain for the number of evictions, and these new measures could significantly change the rental market situation.
Another key point is the demand to increase funding for the Rodalies suburban rail network. Party representatives argue that the number of intercity buses should be doubled and that airport expansions and the construction of new highways should be abandoned. They point out a paradox: Spain ranks second in the world in terms of high-speed rail length, yet still struggles to ensure stable service on some regional lines.
Education and Healthcare
In education, Comuns are pushing to expand the free school meals program. Currently, 18% of students receive this support, but the party is demanding an increase to 27%. According to their data, one in three children in Catalonia is at risk of social isolation, and expanding the meal program is seen as one way to address this issue.
In healthcare, the party proposes to cut waiting times for specialist appointments and surgeries by 50%. In some cases, such as traumatology, the average wait for a first consultation reaches 180 days, and in certain cities like Sabadell, it’s almost a year. Comuns consider such delays unacceptable and call for immediate changes.
Context and consequences
In recent years, Spain has repeatedly raised concerns about speculation in the real estate market and the impact of large investment funds on housing prices. In 2024, steps were taken in Madrid and Barcelona to curb mass apartment purchases, but none of the laws fully banned speculative transactions. Other regions have also discussed increasing support for renters and tightening controls on evictions, but such tough requirements as in Catalonia are being proposed for the first time. These measures could set a precedent for all of Spain and change the approach to real estate regulation at the national level.
