This Monday, Parliament returned to the failure to set a cap on rent increases, with the government explaining that the aim was to stabilize the market in the face of criticism from the PCP and BE for failing to respond to the “dramatic situation” of tenants.
At the start of the third day of the Specialized Estimate of the State Budget 2024 (OE2024), the presentation in plenary of the PPC proposal to create a special regime for the protection of rental housing was one of the moments that marked the discussion between the benches.
The Communist proposal, whose goals included limiting rent increases or limiting evictions due to non-payment of rent, was again rejected – as happened on Friday in the Commission on Budget and Finance (COF) – with votes against PS, PSD, Chega and IL and votes for PCP, BE, PAN and Livre.
During the plenary discussion, Bruno Diaz of the PKP said that the communists’ goal is to “protect tenants” in the face of a housing emergency, given that deputies have the power to “limit evictions and limit the rise in rental prices.”
“We appeal to the PS not to help the right and protect residents from the dramatic situation in which they find themselves,” he called.
As for the Socialist government, Housing Minister Fernanda Rodrigues explained that, unlike other European countries where the rental market makes up 50% of the market, in Portugal 70% of households live in their own home.
The government’s aim, he explained, was to give “priority to a sustainable rental market” and as for rent prices, the option was not to freeze them “so that the market can stabilize”.
In response, IL MP Isabel Pires warned that without any ceiling or brakes, Portugal would see “the biggest increase in rent costs in 30 years” and asked how the government felt about the support of all the right regarding this policy.
“What kind of stability do you give to families,” he asked, accusing the PS chief of continuing to not give “the only answer to these families” and “whistling to the side.”
As for Chega, Andre Ventura attacked the PCP, accusing the communists of not knowing what private property is or wanting to protect it, and Bruno Diaz responded by accusing Chega of “showing how he looks down on people’s problems.” , rejecting these measures.
Equally unsuccessful was Livre’s offer to help with the purchase of a first home for permanent homeownership, while the only MP, Rui Tavares, believes that it is impossible to tell “today’s young people and lower classes that they cannot have access to their own home because of banking excesses.” .
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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