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Spain

https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/

April 2025

Nationwide demonstrations take place over rental housing crisis

On 5 April, tens of thousands of people marched across 39 cities to protest the soaring cost of housing and the growing difficulty of affording rent or buying a home. Organizers estimated 150,000 participants in Madrid and over 100,000 in Barcelona alone, while local authorities cited lower numbers. The protests were organized by tenants’ unions, neighborhood associations, and other civil society groups to denounce the lack of affordable housing, the sharp rise in property and rental prices, and speculation in the real estate market, especially in urban areas. Protesters called for measures such as rent caps, stronger protections for tenants, and stricter regulations on short-term tourist rentals. Earlier this year, the government unveiled a national housing policy plan ("Plan Estatal de Vivienda") that includes expanding the public housing stock and offering rental subsidies, with a focus on improving access for the most vulnerable populations. 

Sources: El País, Associated Press, Telecinco, RTVE, El Confidencial 

November 2024

Council of Ministers approves new immigration regulations

On 19 November, the Council of Ministers approved new immigration regulations to simplify residency and work permit processes for foreign nationals. A key change reduces the required continuous stay from three years to two for obtaining a residence permit based on "arraigo" (rootedness, reflecting ties to Spain). The decree will also make it easier for undocumented migrants to regularize their status, including those denied international protection. Migrants will receive an initial one-year work permit, renewable for four-year periods, while job-seeking visas will be extended from three months to one year. Family reunification rules are relaxed, raising the eligible age for children from 21 to 26, and allowing non-registered couples to apply. The updated regulations take effect on 20 May 2025, and the government expects the changes will regularize the status of 300,000 people per year over the next three years.

Sources: Boletin Oficial del Estado, Ministerio de Inclusion, Seguridad Social y Migraciones, El Pais  

October 2024

Spain devastated by deadly floods

As of 31 October, severe flooding in southern and eastern Spain had resulted in the deaths of 158 people. Experts pointed to poor urban planning and outdated infrastructure, which allowed settlement in high-risk areas, as major contributing factors. According to climate experts, climate change exacerbated the storms, leading to flash flooding after prolonged droughts that left the ground unable to absorb the water. The Defense Ministry deployed the military to facilitate rescue operations, and in Valencia, Spain’s third most populous city, the local government reported a large number of citizens’ solidarity initiatives. Regional authorities were criticised for delayed and inadequate warnings, as well as a lack of clear instructions for those at risk, leading to discussions about augmenting risk preparedness and emergency coordination. 

Sources: El Pais, France24, BBC, Politico, Generalitat Valenciana 

September 2024

Government launches democracy action plan

On 17 September, the government approved a broad Action Plan for Democracy, a package of measures intended to enhance media independence and the right to information. Key initiatives include the drafting of an Open Administration Law to improve the quality of government information, the establishment of an independent authority to protect whistleblowers in public administration, measures for the disclosure of assets and interests by ministers and political parties, and legal safeguards to protect journalists’ sources. The plan also envisages the creation of a media register to improve transparency around media ownership and funding, to be maintained by an independent regulatory body. Building on consultations with parliamentary groups conducted in July, the plan will be implemented over three years and monitored by an inter-ministerial commission.

Sources: La Moncloa, International Press Institute, Publico, Euractiv 

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Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2023

Chevron
Representation
26/173
Rights
12/173
Rule of Law
22/173
Participation
35/173

Basic Information

Chevron
Population Tooltip
48 347 910
System of government
Parliamentary system
Head of government
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (since 2018)
Head of government party
PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party)
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
List Proportional Representation
Women in lower or single chamber
44.3%
Women in upper chamber
42.5%
Last legislative election
2023
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
4.08
Head of state
King Felipe VI
Selection process for head of state
Hereditary or election by hereditary state rulers
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
22/01/2020
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
91.64%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
State Party
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 4 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 7 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 12 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
in
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Performance by category over the last 6 months

Representation neutral Representation
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May 2025
Representation neutral Rights
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May 2025
Representation neutral Rule of law
Dec 2024
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Representation neutral Participation
Dec 2024
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May 2025

Global State of Democracy Indices

Hover over the trend lines to see the exact data points across the years

Explore the indices
Representation
Representation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
Rule of Law
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

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