LISTED: The new laws Spain's government wants to tackle in September
Spanish politics is back after the summer break with over 30 pieces of draft legislation up for approval, including laws on housing, healthcare and culture.
Spanish politicians will soon return from their summer holidays and begin another political year, with dozens of laws lined up for votes, debates and approval in the Congress of Deputies.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez likely welcomed the break. Before the summer, he came under mounting pressure for a series of corruption scandals implicating his inner-circle, including family members and former right-hand men.
Opposition parties demanded his resignation, while his former coalition partner, hard-left Podemos, called the legislature "dead."
READ ALSO: Spain's PM won't quit over scandals and confirms plan to tackle corruption
It's not like politics stopped entirely over summer, however. Political blame games over the wildfires, as well as the reception by Spanish regions of migrant children and the thorny issue of Catalan financing, were the main issues that kept Spain's political pundits busy over the summer.
READ ALSO: How Spain's deadly wildfires have ignited a political blame game
But Congress will in September process up to thirty-three laws when the political session resumes, as well as confront the underlying unknown of whether the government will finally present a budget after postponing it for the last two years.
The House of Deputies will see a wide range of legislation throughout the month, including bills on housing, health, culture, and a reduction in the working week.
Here are the key laws and what you need to know about them.
Healthcare
In healthcare, a bill is awaiting approval that aims to establish measures to "protect the universality" of Spain's public healthcare system and expand rights for patients.
Housing
Similarly, a proposed law will be introduced that aims to strengthen protections for mortgage holders, particularly taking steps to prevent possible eviction.
Employment
Spain's long-running battle to reduce the working week, one of the flagship policies of Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz, will also be up for approval.
READ ALSO: Q&A - What you need to know about Spain's shorter working week
Prostitution
The government's long-standing pledge to abolish prostitution could also return to Congress in some form.
The so-called "digital pimping" of online sex workers is one of the areas Spain’s Ministry of Equality is working on as part of the draft bill to abolish prostitution, which it plans to submit to the Council of Ministers in September.
Culture
In culture, the draft Film and Audiovisual Culture Act, which seeks to strengthen the Spanish film industry internationally, also needs approval by Spanish deputies.
Travel and security
A new draft bill on airline security and navigation will update rules on Spanish airspace and safety. The aim is to include technology not covered by preexisting legislation, such as drones, and to fine airlines that are slow to comply with resolutions on consumer complaints.
Family Law
Proposed changes to the Family Law would benefit more than half a million families through the expansion of tax deductions for working mothers, the equalisation of single-parent families with two children, new foster care placements for children with disabilities and guaranteed nursery school places for single-parent families.
Budget
Of course, the underlying political question is the budget. The main challenge for the government in the coming year will be to gather sufficient parliamentary support to pass a new general state budget, something it failed to do in 2024 and 2025.
If it doesn't for a third year, the political reality may finally become ungovernable for Sánchez.
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