Portugal's parliament on Wednesday approved the outline of a rental reform that would speed up evictions and end rent controls on new contracts, after the far-right Chega party unexpectedly abstained and left-wing parties voted against. A day earlier, Spain's left-wing government banned evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030 amid protests over rising rents. The contrast highlights a split over how to ease housing crises in both countries: Portugal's centre-right government says the changes will coax some 250,000 empty properties onto the market, while tenant groups call the plan "savagery" that will push rents higher.