Martínez and his attempt not to build social housing

PalmaPoliticians must represent the people. This is such an obvious maxim that when public representatives ignore it, it is very disappointing. It turns out that the Government promoted a regulation that allows the largest developable lands in Palma, mainly in the hands of development companies, to build 45% more homes on the same plot than stipulated by the General Plan. In other words, where developable land owners could build 100 homes, they can now build 145 in the name of the housing crisis.

The argument was predictable: since there is a shortage of homes, let's allow those who own land to build many more. The small detail is that these owners bought the land under a general plan that made certain provision forecasts and, therefore, paid for it at that price, without anticipating an increase of no less than 45%.

In return, as is logical –because, if not, we would be facing an arbitrary and irregular action–, the new resulting developments had to have 50% of their homes protected or, at least, at a limited price. This intensification of land use, which was not favoured by GOB, nor by various professional groups or the opposition –it means further saturating the city–, had a social purpose that for some could justify the measure.

The developers began to grumble and say that if it were so, the accounts would not add up. And some of us wrote "beware that they don't remove the requirement". Well, the mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, has tried it. He stood in Parliament and, using the excuse of the capital city law, wanted to sneak in this exemption. There are no words. In this case, Martínez has not represented the people, but a few powerful people.