Prohens defends herself against the left's accusations 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 leader of Unides Podem, José María García, of favoring "speculation" in housing. The eco-sovereigntist demanded that the purchase of housing by legal entities—investment funds, commercial companies, and businesses—be prohibited and that tools be given to stressed 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 of the Government, Apesteguia has once again put on the table the bill from MÉS per Mallorca to fight against speculation in housing. 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, limiting the acquisition of second homes and making it mandatory that properties be used as a primary residence, and preventing them from being converted into 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, has questioned the measures adopted by the Government and has detailed that housing prices continue to rise.

"Must the houses of Mallorcans who have them empty in their town be expropriated?", 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 claimed the Government's commitment to "build 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 that she does not rule out limiting the purchase of properties by non-residents if Europe opens the door to this possibility, provided it does not affect the citizens of the Islands.