Carlos Moedas allocates 800 million euros for investments in public housing in Lisbon until 2028.

On Tuesday, the Mayor of Lisbon highlighted an €800 million investment in housing until 2028 through the Institute for Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU), rejecting PS accusations of “lack of ambition”.

“In this mandate, we signed with IHRU, that is, with the state, as well as with Europe, 560 million euros. In total, there are 800 million euros until 2028. a potential that is even comparable to the availability of 800 million euros for investment in housing, “said Carlos Moedas (PSD) at a meeting of the Lisbon Municipal Assembly.

In a presentation of the council’s work in April and May, the mayor said that of the €800 million agreed with IHRU for public housing investment, €510 million would be distributed from European Union funds.

Blaming the current leadership of the PSD/CDS-PP in the Lisbon Chamber for a “lack of ambition”, PS MP Pedro Roque questioned the “lack of a real housing program in the city”, which is a response to the large number of vacant houses that could be available for affordable housing. and local housing regulations.

“At the same time that the handover of keys to housing to residents is valued, it will be important to continue to remember that this current achievement has its roots in the previous mandate, being the result of a long work done by the Executive Committee of the Socialist Party,” he said.

Seeking to “correct some facts,” Social Democrat Carlos Moedas said it was “factually wrong” that the current leader has no vision for housing because “no one has ever invested so much in housing.” and the €560 million cost agreed to by IHRU in this mandate “has nothing to do with the past, it’s the future.”

Since the start of the mandate, in October 2021, and to date, the council has handed over 1,072 council housing keys, the mayor said, highlighting the provision of 18 council houses to house 40 specialists from the Public Security Police (PSP), a measure he wants to extend to others. professional classes such as teachers and nurses.

Considering that “security is one of the main assets” of the city of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas reiterated the request for the government to comply with the requirement to increase the PSP patrols by at least 267 agents and to allow an increase in the number of specialists assigned to the municipal service. The police, which has 857 vacancies in the state, and today there are 424, the number of which can be reduced to 270 with the retirement of workers.

When asked by the PS about mobility in the city, the mayor emphasized that there was an “ideological difference” in relation to the previous leader, noting that his vision was “never about imposing decisions”, but counting on the participation of people in decision-making.

“Avenida Almirante Reis is an example of what we are building together with the people,” noted the social democrat, explaining that the project goes beyond changing the bike path, as the goal is to re-qualify this artery with the participation of merchants and residents, anticipating It is hoped that the participation process will be completed “by the end of the year” so that “a solution that respects everyone and does not pit one against the other” can be presented.

As the main measures implemented by this leader, and which, in his opinion, contradict the charge of the PS of lack of ambition, the mayor has allocated free public transport for the youngest and oldest, which registers the commitment of “80 thousand people”, which represents “more than 10 % of the population of Lisbon”, of which half did not have a pass, which means that demand doubled.

Other measures include the Lisbon 65+ Health Plan, which already supports 12,000 residents over 65 and has already helped more than 1,000 people with consultations and home visits, he said.