Sumar shows itself in favor of proposing concessions to Junts, such as bonuses for landlords and the application of VAT exemption, and calls on the PSOE to get involved in this negotiation until the last moment to forge an agreement that will allow the extension of rent protections included in the decree-law on housing measures that is voted on this Tuesday in Congress and which the Catalan party intends to oppose, as it ratified this Monday and in line with PP and Vox.
The first to propose these two measures as a way to attract Junts' favorable vote has been the Minister of Social Rights, Pablo Bustinduy, who has underlined that both are public demands from Puigdemont's party and could make them change their position.
In fact, he explained that the Government pre-agreed with Junts the franchised VAT —the option of not charging VAT on invoices below a certain economic threshold— when the first decree in response to the Iran war was voted on, and considers that on Tuesday the conditions could be met to materialize that pact linked to the extension of rents.
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Junts maintains its rejection of the rental decree and puts its approval in Congress at risk
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Bustinduy: "We expect political will from Junts and PSOE"
"We hope that both Junts and the PSOE have enough will to, in the time we have left, outline that agreement and that the measure can move forward," he stated in statements on TVE, insisting that he sees a pact that shields the continuity of the rent extension as possible. He also stressed that "there are always conversations" and trusts that they will materialize in the coming hours.
Later, the Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, has reinforced this message by highlighting that the final stretch of the vote is being entered and that they cannot "fail thousands of families" who, without the extension —which limits rent increases to 2% of the CPI—, would be exposed to sharp rent hikes.
Landlords' bonuses accepted despite not being their model
"We want to make a call, both to Junts and to the Socialist Party, for us to make that validation of the decree possible tomorrow," he insisted at a joint press conference with the parliamentary spokesperson for IU, Enrique Santiago. He also pointed out that conversations about this initiative have never been interrupted.
Urtasun has acknowledged that, although it is not his model, they would be willing to accept tax bonuses for landlords to save the extension, underlining that these tax measures depend on portfolios led by the PSOE. However, he is confident that the socialists will accept these counter-measures as it is a decree that affects the entire Government.
Regarding the reiterated opposition of Junts, he pointed out that these are "conditions" that "should not be an obstacle" to achieving validation. "Evidently, it requires generosity from everyone, we do not deny it," he added.
We do not see PSOE involved
For her part, the general secretary of Podemos, Ione Belarra, has warned that it is very likely that the decree "will fall" and has urged the Government to have a "plan B", considering that it cannot leave thousands of tenants unprotected due to a lack of support in Congress.
He has claimed that, if necessary, the extension until the end of the legislature should be resubmitted "every month" and even that a mandatory 40% reduction in rental prices should be incorporated.
In addition, he has criticized that the PSOE has not been sufficiently involved in the negotiation, pointing out that when it wants to push a decree forward, "that negotiation is taken on," something that, in his opinion, has not happened in this case, despite Sumar having taken the lead. He has also accused the socialists of not prioritizing the extension, recalling that they separated the housing measures from the tax cut decree that was indeed validated.
Mónica García maintains "all hope"
Meanwhile, the Minister of Health and leader of Más Madrid, Mónica García, has affirmed that she maintains "all hope" that the decree will move forward, despite PP, Vox, and Junts having announced their vote against it.
"We have hope that that 75% of citizens who say they need that royal decree will prevail over the representatives of that 75% of citizens," he pointed out in Congress, arguing that the extension is the only measure capable of stopping the "bloodshed" of rental prices.
García has warned that, without this measure, rents could rise between 400 and 500 euros, especially in a context of inflationary rebound, and has warned of the risk of leaving families "at the mercy of the market" and "speculation".
Likewise, he has warned the PP that voting against the decree would mean placing themselves "against the citizens".
Negotiate even with Vox if necessary
Lastly, the spokesperson for Housing of Sumar in Congress, Alberto Ibáñez, has acknowledged that the negotiation with the groups is now "scarce" and that there is "little room" to gain support from PP, Vox or Junts.
Even so, he defended that the Government has the obligation to try "by all means" to negotiate with all groups, including PP, Junts and even Vox, to try to pass the decree.
"If we do not want to generate more political disaffection, and taking into account the number of multi-property owners within these walls, what must be done is to openly defend the royal decree-law as a minimum measure," he concluded.