Sánchez closes ranks with his spokesperson over her partner's real estate deals

BrusselsThe President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, has stood by the spokesperson for the PSOE executive, Montse Mínguez, following the controversy over her partner's real estate properties. When asked from Brussels about the real estate management companies of Mínguez's partner, Sergi Vélez, the socialist leader stressed that he "of course" supports her. Mínguez was ratified this Wednesday as the lead candidate for the socialists for Lleida.

Sánchez stated that he "is unaware of what the professional activities" of Vélez are and showed himself to be "surprised" that the PP wants to open a debate on housing in the country, taking into account the controversy over the penthouse of the President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso. "The more the merrier [regarding the housing debate]," he said. Mínguez's partner has about thirty apartments in Lleida intended for rent, and the opposition reproaches the socialist spokesperson for having been one of the most belligerent against investment funds regarding the issue of housing. "Housing must be a right and not a business," she said a few days ago in an interview.

From Brussels, Sánchez took the opportunity to ask the right wing to reconsider its rejection of the housing decree laws. "Perhaps this will make the right-wing parliamentary groups that struck down the decree laws rethink their position," he joked.

Mínguez has defended that her partner's is "a family business that is dedicated to rentals and complies with the housing law of Catalonia". As the digital media outlet Artículo 14, reported, Sergi Vélez has at least one real estate company, Nest Capital, which manages 8 million euros in assets and about thirty rental apartments. "A personal attack is the worst thing there is in politics," the socialist spokesperson replied this Tuesday when asked about the news. Mínguez also defended that the PSOE does not intend to go "neither against companies nor against landlords", but rather to "limit the seemingly infinite rise in rents and protect vulnerable people".

Pension debate

Sánchez has brought to Brussels –where the leaders' summit is being held this week– another debate from the Spanish election campaign. At the entrance to the meeting, the Spanish Prime Minister appeared "perplexed by the videos circulating" in which, according to him, the PP and Vox propose changes to the current pension model. "The plan of the right and the far-right is to lie to pensioners until November 29 and then, if they can govern, cut pensions," he stated.

In this context, Sánchez has announced his executive's intention to approve the revaluation of pensions in accordance with the CPI before the end of the year and has defended that the public system is "sustainable".

The statements come after the PP spokesperson in Congress, Ester Muñoz, stated that the model must be changed because the pension system "will crash". But also from Brussels, where he attended a meeting of the European People's Party, the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has defended that pensions are "non-negotiable" and has assured that, if he reaches the Moncloa, they will be updated in accordance with the CPI.