The debate took place in the Spanish Senate, where Collboni participated in a commission to defend the Housing Law promoted by the Government of Pedro Sánchez. His counterpart from Madrid, the popular José Luis Martínez-Almeida, labeled the regulation a “political gimmick” and demanded that regional competencies not be infringed upon.
“"Prices have dropped by 4.9% in Barcelona. Regulation is a palliative tool that serves to stop the blow and buy time for more supply to become available."
Collboni defended his “recipe” for housing in the Catalan capital, which includes public construction, collaboration with the private sector, and the elimination of all tourist flat licenses starting in 2028, a decision he described as “drastic” and unprecedented globally. His administration aims to achieve 1,000 new public housing units annually.
The Catalan groups Junts and ERC criticized the mayor's speech, calling it “triumphalist.” The Junts senator, Joan Baptista Bagué, accused the previous coalition government in Barcelona of generating “legal uncertainty.”
For his part, the republican Joan Josep Queralt criticized Collboni for not demanding the transfer of the vast real estate assets owned by the State in the city, such as the police station on Via Laietana, the Bruc barracks, or customs buildings, to be used for public housing.
