When 'Yes' and 'No' Cost the Same: The Junts and PNV Paradox
Cuando el 'sí' y el 'no' cuestan lo mismo: la paradoja de Junts y PNV
Oct 1, 2026·2 min read·Graded Spanish · word-by-word audio
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El Gobierno español intenta aprobar un decreto ley para hacer frente a la grave crisis del mercado de la vivienda. Sin embargo, las maniobras para conseguir apoyos han provocado un clima de recelo entre las formaciones que el Ejecutivo creía más fáciles de convencer. Es el caso de los independentistas catalanes de Junts y de los nacionalistas vascos del PNV, que suman doce escaños, suficientes para tumbar la norma solo con su abstención. Ambas formaciones constituyen el sector de la derecha del bloque de investidura. Aunque el decreto contiene algunas medidas que defienden para afrontar el problema de la vivienda, se muestran insatisfechas porque su reclamación bandera —proteger a las familias y al pequeño propietario— no se recoge como esperaban. El texto será debatido y votado en un pleno extraordinario en el Congreso.
La portavoz de Junts, Míriam Nogueras, se sintió decepcionada y preocupada tras analizar el decreto. En su opinión, no se recogen sus dos principales demandas: prohibir la compra de vivienda por parte de los fondos buitre y proteger a las familias. Insistió en que los fondos podrán seguir comprando y que el inquilino tendrá prioridad sobre un familiar del propietario, por ejemplo, un hijo que quiera heredar el piso.
Junts también criticó al Gobierno por el numerito de trocear las medidas en dos decretos, evidenciando falta de rigor y de solvencia de un Ejecutivo internamente enfrentado. Pese a todo, no ha dado un portazo definitivo al decreto. Seguirá analizándolo hasta el último minuto y tomará una decisión en consecuencia. Su voto en contra, unido al de PP y Vox, tumbaría la norma.
La portavoz del PNV en el Congreso, Maribel Vaquero, hizo hincapié en que su grupo necesitaba tiempo para estudiar en profundidad las 96 páginas del decreto. Advirtió del riesgo de que, en el intento de acabar con los abusos y proteger a las personas vulnerables, se acabara convirtiendo al pequeño propietario en el enemigo. «Se puede y se debe defender al inquilino sin criminalizar a quien pone una vivienda en alquiler», recalcó.
Para el PNV es imprescindible no equiparar a los grandes fondos de inversión con los pequeños propietarios y asegurar que la función social de la vivienda no recaiga sobre los particulares, sino sobre la Administración pública. Este grupo defiende construir más vivienda protegida, alentar la seguridad jurídica y propiciar incentivos. En definitiva, «más zanahoria y menos palo». La pregunta que lanza al Gobierno es si los decretos garantizarán el acceso a una vivienda digna.
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Watch out, English speaker
Spanish 'aunque' can take either the indicative or the subjunctive, and the choice changes the meaning. English 'although' always takes a plain fact, so learners often use the subjunctive by default. Use the indicative when the clause states a known fact, as in 'Aunque el decreto contiene medidas...'.
After expressions of risk like 'advirtió del riesgo de que...', Spanish requires the subjunctive because the event is uncertain or not yet real. English uses a plain clause ('warned of the risk that...'), so English speakers tend to copy that with the indicative. Remember: risk, doubt, and possibility trigger the subjunctive in Spanish.
The Spanish 'no... sino...' means 'not... but rather...' and corrects a previous negative. English often uses 'but' alone, so learners may write 'no... pero...'. Also, 'sino' must be followed by a grammatical element parallel to what was negated, not a full clause.
Key vocabulary
decretom.
decree, executive order
“El Gobierno español intenta aprobar un decreto ley.”— The Spanish Government is trying to pass a decree law.
Pattern decreto ley decree law
Compare ordenanza decree
Plural: decretos
💡 From Latin decretum, refers to a legally binding order issued by the government.
recelom.
mistrust, suspicion
“Las maniobras han provocado un clima de recelo.”— The maneuvers have created a climate of mistrust.
Pattern clima de recelo atmosphere of suspicion
Compare desconfianza distrust
Plural: recelos
💡 From the verb recelar (to suspect), often used with clima to indicate an atmosphere.
escañom.
seat (in parliament)
“Suman doce escaños, suficientes para tumbar la norma.”— They hold twelve seats, enough to bring down the measure.
Pattern sumar escaños gain seats
Compare asiento seat
Plural: escaños
💡 Originally meant a bench; in political contexts it refers to a parliamentary seat.
tumbarv.
to bring down, topple
“Su voto en contra tumbaría la norma.”— Their vote against it would bring down the measure.
Pattern tumbar una norma overturn a regulation
Compare derribar overthrow
Conjugation: tumbo, tumbas, tumba...
💡 Originally meant to make an object fall; by extension, to reject in a vote.
reticenciaf.
reluctance, hesitation
“Expresaron sus serias reticencias ante el documento.”— They expressed serious reluctance about the document.
Pattern mostrar reticencias show reservations
Compare duda doubt
Plural: reticencias
💡 From Latin reticentia, refers to an unwillingness to take a clear stance.
inquilinom.
tenant, renter
“El inquilino tendrá prioridad sobre un familiar del propietario.”— The tenant will have priority over a relative of the owner.
Pattern proteger al inquilino protect the tenant
Compare arrendatario lessee
Plural: inquilinos; feminine: inquilina
💡 From Latin incola (inhabitant), refers to a person who lives in rented housing.
portazom.
slammed door; blunt rejection
“No ha dado un portazo definitivo al decreto.”— It has not delivered a definitive rejection of the decree.
Pattern dar un portazo refuse
Compare rechazo rejection
Plural: portazos
💡 Formed from puerta (door) plus the suffix -azo, it means slamming a door; by extension, a blunt refusal.
hincapiém.
emphasis
“Hizo hincapié en que necesitaba tiempo.”— He emphasized that he needed time.
Pattern hacer hincapié en emphasize
Compare énfasis emphasis
No plural change
💡 Fixed expression hacer hincapié en, meaning to emphasize something.
criminalizarv.
to criminalize
“Se puede defender al inquilino sin criminalizar al propietario.”— You can defend the tenant without criminalizing the owner.
Pattern criminalizar a alguien criminalize someone
Compare culpar blame
Conjugation: criminalizo, criminalizas...
💡 From criminal (criminal), refers to treating an act or person as criminal.
equipararv.
to equate, to put on par
“No equiparar a los grandes fondos con los pequeños propietarios.”— Do not equate large funds with small property owners.
Pattern equiparar A con B equate A with B
Compare igualar make equal
Conjugation: equiparo, equiparas...
💡 From equiparable (comparable), often used in negative sentences to indicate that things should not be equated.
zanahoriaf.
carrot; incentive
“En definitiva, más zanahoria y menos palo.”— In short, more carrot and less stick.
Pattern más zanahoria y menos palo more carrot and less stick
Compare incentivo incentive
Plural: zanahorias
💡 From Arabic; in political contexts it symbolizes a reward or incentive.
dignaadj.
decent, dignified
“¿Garantizarán el acceso a una vivienda digna?”— Will they guarantee access to decent housing?
Pattern vivienda digna decent housing
Compare decorosa decent
Masculine: digno; plural: dignos/dignas
💡 From Latin dignus, refers to something worthy of respect or meeting basic standards.
Grammar spotlight
Concessive clauses: aunque + indicative/subjunctive
B1
When aunque introduces a concessive clause, use the indicative if it refers to a known fact, and the subjunctive if it refers to a hypothesis or something uncertain. In this text, the indicative is used to present a known fact.
“Aunque el decreto contiene algunas medidas que defienden, se muestran insatisfechas.”— Although the decree contains some measures they support, they remain dissatisfied.
⚠️ Don't confuse them: use the indicative for facts and the subjunctive for hypotheses.
Subjunctive to express risk or uncertainty
B1
In the structure advirtió del riesgo de que..., the subordinate clause takes the subjunctive because the risk is something that has not yet happened or is uncertain.
“Advirtió del riesgo de que se acabara convirtiendo al pequeño propietario en el enemigo.”— She warned of the risk that the small property owner would end up becoming the enemy.
⚠️ Clauses after nouns like risk or possibility normally take the subjunctive, not the indicative.
No... sino... structure
B1
This structure means 'not... but rather...' and is used to correct or contrast. Sino is followed by an element parallel to the negated one.
“La función social de la vivienda no debe recaer sobre los particulares, sino sobre la Administración pública.”— The social function of housing should not fall on private individuals, but rather on the public administration.
⚠️ Sino is different from sino que: the latter is followed by a clause.
Sentence patterns to steal
Las maniobras para conseguir apoyos han provocado un clima de recelo entre las formaciones que el Ejecutivo creía más fáciles de convencer.
The maneuvers to gain support have sparked a climate of suspicion among the parties the government believed were easier to convince.
Las maniobras para + infinitive + han provocado + noun + entre + groupmaniobras can be replaced with acciones, medidas; recelo can be replaced with desconfianza, malestar
Aunque el decreto contiene algunas medidas que defienden, se muestran insatisfechas porque su reclamación bandera no se recoge como esperaban.
Although the decree contains some measures they support, they remain dissatisfied because their flagship demand has not been included as they expected.
Aunque + indicative, + main clause + porque + reasonreclamación bandera can be replaced with demanda principal, petición clave
Se puede y se debe defender al inquilino sin criminalizar a quien pone una vivienda en alquiler.
One can and should defend tenants without criminalizing those who rent out a home.
Se puede y se debe + infinitive + sin + infinitivedefender al inquilino can be replaced with proteger al trabajador, ayudar al estudiante
Para el PNV es imprescindible no equiparar a los grandes fondos de inversión con los pequeños propietarios.
For the PNV, it is essential not to equate large investment funds with small property owners.
Para + group + es imprescindible + infinitiveimprescindible can be replaced with fundamental, esencial; equiparar can be replaced with comparar, igualar
La pregunta que lanza al Gobierno es si los decretos garantizarán el acceso a una vivienda digna.
The question it puts to the government is whether the decrees will guarantee access to decent housing.
La pregunta que lanza a + person + es si + clauselanza can be replaced with plantea, formula; garantizarán can be replaced with asegurarán, permitirán
Spain's Housing Crisis and Political Maneuvering
In recent years, Spain has faced a severe housing crisis, with soaring rents making it hard for young people to live independently. The government has tried to limit rents and protect tenants through decrees, but some parties oppose this, arguing that overprotecting tenants will discourage small property owners from renting out their homes, thereby reducing supply. The positions of Junts and PNV reflect deep left-right divisions over housing policy.
Source: Based on El Mundo news and the context of Spain's housing law