The Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, has positively assessed the housing decrees approved by the Spanish government during a Council of Ministers meeting, which are set to be ratified by the Congress of Deputies. Collboni emphasized that these measures position housing as a priority and a fundamental right, ensuring that properties serve their primary function for people rather than becoming speculative or tourist assets.
According to the mayor, the two initiatives defend the social use of housing, meaning that properties are for living in. Furthermore, he highlighted that these decrees curb speculation and prevent the eviction of vulnerable individuals, aspects he considers crucial for citizens.
Collboni recalled that Barcelona already has similar regulations in place, such as those for rent control that prevent abusive increases and have frozen prices in the city, as well as regulations for temporary contracts to avoid fraud. These local measures demonstrate a prior commitment to protecting citizens in housing matters.
Finally, the mayor urged all political forces to consider the significance of these regulations. He called on parties to recognize that the set of new rules protects the right to housing, safeguards the most vulnerable, and prevents speculative purchasing, all of which should take precedence over partisan interests or ideological stances. For this reason, he stressed the importance of the decrees successfully passing in Congress.
