The Minister for Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030 has stated that the 20A protests in the Canary Islands “are justified.”
LA OROTAVA (TENERIFE), 4 (EUROPA PRESS)
This Friday, Pablo Bustinduy, the Minister for Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030, urged regional governments to heed the requests of local councils and to advocate for the declaration of stressed areas in light of the “escalating” prices in the housing rental sector.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to an ‘eco-dining room’ school in Tenerife, he emphasised that “this is not the only measure needed; numerous other actions are also essential, but this is a fundamental and sensible first step,” noting that data from Catalonia indicates a price reduction of between 3% and 5% which “is effective.”
Bustinduy highlighted that La Orotava has expressed its intention to request the designation of a stressed area, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife is also contemplating it—he is scheduled to meet with mayor José Manuel Bermúdez this afternoon.
The minister also addressed the “complete lack of regulation” surrounding tourist apartments, many of which operate without a licence and without any form of oversight. Consequently, Sumar has proposed introducing a tax on the tourist use of homes in the negotiation of the upcoming General State Budgets (PGE) to “discourage” their utilisation.
This approach would also ensure that these properties “are not removed” from the rental market supply, a significant factor that is “intensely straining” the housing situation, exacerbated by “large speculative entities” that possess “dozens, if not hundreds,” of homes for this purpose and are achieving “remarkable profits.”
The minister asserted the “social responsibility” of housing and the need to secure the “constitutional right” for working families to access affordable housing.
“Tourist accommodation is one of the major issues, not the only one, but one that we must address to find a solution to this emergency faced by citizens in Spain,” he remarked.
Additionally, he expressed his support for the demonstrations organised by Canarian groups on October 20, recognising them as “pioneers” in highlighting the lack of wealth redistribution from tourism and the challenges relating to housing access, among other statements.
“POWERFUL INTERESTS AT STAKE”
“They are correct in their demands, and I want to emphasise one thing. It is crucial to continue mobilising because when it comes to the specific issue of housing, there are significant interests involved. When this debate occurs over whether housing is a right or a market commodity, we are discussing a clash of interests, the rights of citizens versus the speculative agendas of very powerful economic agents who will do everything they can to obstruct this regulation,” he declared.
In this context, he stated that implementing “caps” on prices can be achieved “with political determination,” which is why he believes social mobilisations “should exert pressure in that direction,” similar to the regulation of tourist housing or banning “speculative purchases” of properties in stressed areas.
Bustinduy acknowledged that these proposals “encounter considerable opposition” because “numerous interests are at play,” making citizen mobilisation “crucial” to ensure “adequate pressure” is applied for “decisive actions” to be undertaken. “Otherwise, this problem will remain unresolved,” he emphasised.
