Junts per Catalunya and the Influence of Real Estate Lobbying

• Junts per Catalunya has actively blocked housing reform decrees in the Spanish Congress, effectively preventing state intervention in the housing market.
• The party's voting record stands in direct opposition to broad public support for housing price controls and tenant protections.

The Real Estate Connection

• While observers often attribute the party's stance to orders from Carles Puigdemont, critics argue the party is primarily serving the interests of 'Foment del Treball,' Catalonia’s largest employers' association.
• By prioritizing the demands of an economic elite, Junts per Catalunya has found itself aligning with right-wing parties such as the PP and Vox on material policy issues.

Consequences of Opposition

• The first rejected decree included palliative measures, specifically the temporary suspension of evictions.
• A subsequent, more ambitious decree aimed at freezing rental prices is also expected to fail, leaving the current housing crisis largely unaddressed by the legislature.