Prohens blames Sánchez for the evictions: "They call it 'progressive, hypocritical and rentier government'"

PalmaThe President of the Government, Marga Prohens, has not felt alluded to by the protests regarding the housing emergency situation in Palma and numerous points in the State. In the control session of the Executive, she has dodged the opposition's questions, insisting that evictions like that of Maricarmen Abascal, which was the spark for the citizen outburst, are the responsibility of the Spanish government. "It is not strange that those of the new 15-M shout 'Progressive, hypocritical, and rentier government'", she continued.

"I wish I were in the Spanish government to solve it," she replied to PSIB spokesperson Iago Negueruela when he demanded measures to limit housing prices. "Maricarmen said it was Pedro Sánchez's fault," she asserted: "This eviction was carried out under a law by Felipe González that has not been reversed." She was referring to the 1994 Urban Leasing Act, which established a transitional regime to progressively phase out old rent lease contracts.

Be that as it may, responsibilities in housing matters are distributed among the state administration, the regional administration, and also the island councils and city councils. Specifically, the Balearic Government has exclusive powers in housing matters, as established by article 30.3 of the Statute of Autonomy. Among other issues, it can create regional housing regulations, regulate social housing, regulate and manage public aid for housing, approve regional plans, and program public spending destined for housing, in addition to promoting public housing.

"It is striking that on a day like today, both Vox and the president have so little empathy," Negueruela lamented, referring to Maricarmen's case. "Do you know who is evicting these people? Vulture funds," he continued, and argued that "the only ones who can buy on the Islands are developers and investment funds." Shortly before the PSOE and Sumar announced an agreement to approve two housing decrees at the Council of Ministers, Prohens accused the PSIB of wanting to "instrumentalize" the evicted woman. "Why do you engage in this type of disastrous politics?" she asked herself: "We have been working for months on a housing plan for elderly people in situations of residential exclusion." Once again, she refused to limit rental prices by applying the state housing law because, she said, "they do not work." She also distanced herself from the possibility of extending leases as proposed by the Spanish executive: "It is generating fear and insecurity for those who have a property to rent, saying that if they do, they will never be able to recover the apartment." "The solution involves providing incentives, security, providing affordable housing, and prioritizing those with legal residency," she asserted.

Vox attacks the "theatrical performance" of the left

The Vox spokesperson, Manuela Cañadas, has criticized the "new theatrical performance" by the left following the eviction of Maricarmen. She also expressed opposition to any market intervention, tax hikes, contract extensions, banning of evictions, or declaration of vulnerable tenants, in addition to insisting that this would reduce the rental supply.

MÉS demands to intervene in market prices

The spokesperson for MÉS per Mallorca, Lluís Apesteguia, referred to the increase in the prices of the shopping basket and fuels and demanded that Prohens intervene in "a runaway market". He also lamented that in the preliminary draft of the special regime law "there is not a single measure that lowers the price of gasoline, but it has proposed how to favor speculators so they can come to extract a greater profit in the Balearic Islands". "Flee from the orders of your party in Madrid and obey the cry of the street", he told her, in addition to insisting that she has tools for self-government. Prohens responded by assuring that the eco-sovereigntists could pressure the Spanish government through their deputy in Madrid to lower the VAT on the shopping basket.