The Minister of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030, Pablo Bustinduy, has claimed this Wednesday that the housing decree law should be submitted "now" to the examination of the Congress of Deputies, even without having a guaranteed sufficient majority to push it forward, and has insisted that the parliamentary groups that resist supporting it "pay the political and social price" if they choose to reject it.
In an interview on TVE reported by Europa Press, Bustinduy referred to the delay in the processing of this regulation — initially announced before the August break — to emphasize that, for his part, he defended "actively and passively, publicly and privately" that the initiative should have been brought to the Lower House at the end of July.
"The argument is always the same: that the majority is very complicated and that Junts, and in this case Podemos has also expressed some reluctance, will not support it," said the Minister of Social Rights, referring to the arithmetic difficulties that the Executive cites.
Questioned about the reasons for the blockage in the conversations, Bustinduy maintained that, although the decree "could be nuanced" or adjusted according to the specific demands of the key groups for its validation, there are parties that respond to "other interests and other objectives."
In this line, he accused those parties of refusing to "intervene in the housing market," to "provide relief to tenants," or to "end the fraud of seasonal rentals, of rooms or of tourist apartments," understanding that they are "serving other interests or pursuing their own."
In light of this scenario, the minister has defended that the decision should not be delayed any longer and that the text should arrive at the Plenary now. "It needs to be brought now. And there should be political and social pressure on those parliamentary groups so that they cannot afford to reject it. And if they reject it, they should pay the price, they should not get away with it," he emphasized.
"THEY SHIELD THE INTERESTS OF THOSE WHO ARE GETTING RICH"
Bustinduy has denied that the stance of some parliamentary partners is due to an attempt to wear down the Government or to personal conflicts. "They do it because they are shielding the interests of those who are getting rich from the housing crisis," he stated, emphasizing that the housing problem in Spain is not a result of chance.
"The housing crisis is not a meteorological crisis either, it's not about 'Oh, how bad the housing is! Good heavens!'", the minister has censured, contrasting the situation of those who cannot afford rent with the profits obtained by large landlords and investors.
In his opinion, the "discomfort and anguish of millions of citizens who cannot pay rent, who cannot leave their homes, who are sharing an apartment at 45 years old because they cannot move out on their own or who cannot buy a home" turn into "the profit and benefit of those on the other side, of those who are making a fortune, largely international funds."
"INCOMPREHENSIBLE" ABSTENTION OF PSOE BEFORE THE INITIATIVE OF SUMAR
During his speech, Bustinduy also criticized the outcome of the vote held this Tuesday in Congress on a proposal promoted by Sumar to limit the purchase of properties by investment funds.
Specifically, the Plenary rejected, thanks to the abstention of PSOE, to admit for processing a bill from Sumar that aimed to prevent companies and investment funds from acquiring homes and to reserve their purchase exclusively for individuals.
"Yesterday Congress voted on a law presented by Sumar to prohibit investment funds from buying more housing in Spain. The PP and Vox voted against it and the Socialist Party, incomprehensibly, abstained," Bustinduy lamented.
In light of this situation, the minister made it clear that he will continue to promote regulatory changes. "I am not going to sit back and say there is nothing that can be done, good heavens. No, no. I want to bring the laws to Congress, in force, protecting people, as we did with the extension (of rentals), and that there is enough social and political pressure so that they either cannot vote against it or pay the price for doing so, which is how a democracy works, being held accountable," he concluded.