Prohens defends herself from the accusations of the left of fueling "speculation": "They propose to expropriate"

PalmaThe President of the Government, Marga Prohens, defended herself this Tuesday in the plenary session against accusations from the leader of MÉS per Mallorca, Lluís Apesteguia, and the one from Unides Podem, José María García, of favoring "speculation" in housing. The eco-sovereigntist demanded that the purchase of homes by legal entities—investment funds, commercial companies, and businesses—be prohibited and that tools be given to strained municipalities to establish that purchased homes must be linked to being a primary residence for a certain period. However, the president accused him of defending "expropriation".

During the control session to the Government, Apesteguia has once again put on the table the bill from MÉS per Mallorca to fight against housing speculation. This regulation is based on the distinction between the social function and the financial return of housing. In addition to limiting purchases for non-residential purposes, it proposes, among other issues, to limit the acquisition of second homes and to make it mandatory that properties be used as a primary residence, preventing them from becoming tourist or seasonal rentals.

The deputy recalled that there are approximately 100,000 empty homes in the Islands, and has once again proposed that municipalities with a high proportion of them be able to establish that homes acquired during a certain period must be used as a primary residence. "The choice is very clear: either life or speculation," he continued. In parallel, the deputy from Unides Podem José María García, from the mixed group, questioned the measures adopted by the Government and detailed that housing prices continue to rise.

"Must we expropriate the houses of Mallorcans who have them empty in their town?", Prohens replied to Apesteguia: "That is what you told us here". "This is the proposal: to expropriate homes that are empty", she insisted. In this sense, she vindicated the Government's commitment to "building affordable housing for the people from here" and snapped at the eco-sovereigntist: "You will have no other choice but to vote for the PP". In response to the deputy from Podem, Prohens insisted thatshe does not rule out limiting the purchase of real estate to non-residents if Europe opens the door to this possibility, as long as it does not affect the citizens of the Islands.

Parliament begins the processing of the vehicle limitation in Menorca

The plenary session of the Parliament has given the green light to the consideration of the amendment to the Menorca Biosphere Reserve law, which will allow for setting limits on the entry of vehicles to the island with the goal of it coming into force this summer. The regulation begins its processing with the support of all groups and the abstention of Vox, which considers that the objective of the regulation is a "fundraising drive".