Junts shows itself "disappointed" by the housing decree laws...but Pedro Sánchez is "optimistic"

MadridWith one of the two housing decrees already published in the BOE—the one for the social shield with measures such as the temporary suspension of some evictions—, and the other pending to do so—it will be published this Friday—, the political parties are beginning to make their moves. For the moment, the president of ERC, Oriol Junqueras, has confirmed that they will vote in favor of both texts, although he has lamented that they are "insufficient". Gabriel Rufián, from the Congress of Deputies, has warned in any case that he will look at every "last comma". Meanwhile, Podem and Junts maintain the uncertainty. In fact, it is with these two formations that the Spanish government must perform the most juggling to satisfy their demands, very often contradictory.

In statements in the corridors of Congress, Míriam Nogueras made an initial assessment: "We are disappointed and worried". "The two main objectives were to stop vulture funds and protect families. This decree-law does not stop them because they can continue buying", she declared, in addition to ensuring that as currently drafted, the strengthening of the right of first refusal and retraction could lead to confusion as to whether the tenant has preference when buying the apartment in the event of the owner's death or, on the other hand, if inheritance takes precedence.

The leader of Junts in the Spanish chamber believes that the regulation on vulture funds falls short, as the Spanish government vetoes the purchase of properties to all investors who acquire apartments below 70% of the market price. On the other hand, Junts sources ensure that their proposal involved directly prohibiting specific legal entities from carrying out these operations. "We are studying it. There is a lot at stake", said the secretary general of Junts, Jordi Turull, in an interview with Catalunya Ràdio. In turn, the PNB will not advance the direction of its vote and they say they will not be in the "trenches" but rather seeking agreements.

From La Moncloa, after meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, the Spanish President, Pedro Sánchez, downplayed the statements from Junts and assured that he is "reasonably optimistic" about the final vote of Míriam Nogueras' party. In fact, he considered that the legislative housing package will move forward because it is no longer an "ideological" issue but one of "humanity".

The position of Podem

Podem, which has not specified what it will do either, has been critical of the fact that the decrees have been split up: "They have cheated [...] Bring the complete decree as the Tenants' Union has asked," said Belarra during this Wednesday's plenary session in Congress, thus coinciding with one of the criticisms from the movement for the right to housing. Podem also believes that it is a "minimums" decree, in reference to what the social shield includes. In this sense, this Thursday afternoon they will meet with the Tenants' Union to finish agreeing on their position.

"If the measures [of the housing decree] are not approved, there is no social shield until 2030, there are no limits on speculative buying, there is no control on seasonal or room rentals, nor savings for 1.6 million tenants," replied the First Vice President and Minister of Economy, Carlos Cuerpo. The Spanish government includes all these measures in the first decree, while it has left indefinite contracts in a second decree: the great demand of the Tenants' Union and the left, but which alienates parties like Junts. "It is the most ambitious measure and thus [in a second decree] it remains like a purple unicorn. The [Spanish] government itself admits in private that it will not be approved," lamented Belarra in an interview with the Cadena SER.

This is not the first time that the government has chosen to split up a decree in the face of the danger that it might fail entirely —it had to do so precisely before the summer, when in the decree for the war in Ukraine it included housing measures such as the extraordinary extension of leases for two years, which were demanded by the left, especially Sumar, the executive's minority partner.

Winks to one side and the other

This time, this extraordinary extension is once again being put on the table to appease this party, but it is accompanied by nods to the right—PNB sources in Congress explain that they are "studying" it to see that "everything fits" and "there is no legal uncertainty." For example, strong personal income tax (IRPF) deductions are included for landlords who lower the rent price (they can be up to 100%), but it is also left in the hands of the autonomous communities to compensate small landlords when an eviction of a vulnerable family without alternative housing cannot be carried out. This type of compensation was a red line for Junts: "We cannot criminalize the small landlord. And what about all the months the landlord needs to pay the mortgage?", lamented Turull, who took the opportunity to attack left-wing policies: "The evils come from all the posturing policies and from Mrs. [Ada] Colau", he concluded.

The PP, on the other hand, has revealed a position—they will vote against it—that was to be expected: "I will not support a deceitful government", said the popular leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, in the corridors of Congress this Wednesday.