Sánchez stands together with his spokesperson over his partner's real estate dealings

BrusselsThe Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has rallied behind the PSOE executive spokesperson, Montse Mínguez, following the controversy over her partner's real estate properties. When asked about reports published in various digital media outlets stating that Mínguez's husband, Sergi Vélez, owns at least thirty rental apartments in Lleida, the PSOE leader assured that he "of course" supports her, as he arrived at the leaders' summit taking place this week in Brussels.

Sánchez stated that he "is unaware of what the professional activities" of Vélez are and expressed that he was "surprised" that the People's Party wants to open a debate on housing in the country, considering the controversy surrounding the penthouse of the President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso. "The more the merrier [regarding the housing debate]," he asserted, and he took the opportunity to pressure the right-wing on the vote for housing decree-laws. "Perhaps this will make the right-wing parliamentary groups that struck down the decree-laws rethink their position," he said.

Mínguez has rejected the accusations, alleging that it is "a family business dedicated to renting that complies with Catalonia's housing law." As reported by the digital media outlet Articulo 14, her partner owns at least one real estate company, Nest Capital, which manages 8 million euros in assets and between 20 and 30 rental apartments. "A personal attack is the worst thing there is in politics," Mínguez reacted to the reports. "We are not against businesses or property owners, but rather aimed at limiting the seemingly infinite rise in rents and protecting vulnerable people," the socialist spokesperson emphasized.