Pablo Bustinduy is Spain's minister for social rights and consumer affairs. A member of Sumar, the junior party in the coalition government, Bustinduy has attracted international attention because of his brushes with airlines, Ryanair most notably. Just over a year ago, Michael O'Leary described the minister as an "idiot". "The sooner he is thrown out of office, the better. We have no relationship with him. His fine on hand luggage, invented by his department, is clearly illegal." The fine was 107 million euros.
At the end of February, Sumar ministers stood firm against Pedro Sánchez and did not attend a cabinet meeting to approve aid to address the price increases resulting from the conflict in the Middle East. They insisted there also had to be a decree to extend rental contracts expiring in 2026 and 2027. This decree was then issued. Whether it is verified by Congress is another matter; the decree is in effect but will expire on April 22.
Bustinduy believes it will ultimately be approved. "I am absolutely convinced that Congress will ratify it, because of the public support it has generated. When 2.6 million people are affected, the political cost of voting against it is very high for any party. Or do people vote for the right not live in rented accommodation? Landlords will receive their rent payments, and renters can remain in their homes peacefully, without the threat of exorbitant increases.
"Despite this, both the Partido Popular and Vox have refused to sit down and negotiate, once again siding with speculators against the working majority. They believe that by voting against it, they will inflict a defeat on this government, but they will simply expose their inability to hold public office and defend the interests of the majority. The extension will pass, and those who don't vote in favour will be shamed sooner rather than later.
"The rental agreement extension is a government-wide measure, approved by the cabinet. It is a fundamental demand of social organisations defending the right to housing. For this reason, it's supported by various political groups in Congress that are not part of the government. Ultimately, it's a measure that defends the general interest, driven by social organisations and supported by all those who understand that, in the face of a crisis of this magnitude, the majority must be protected." (The original agreement was brought in during the pandemic in order to limit rent increases once contracts come to an end and are subject to renewal.)
In more general terms, Bustinduy believes there is a solution to problems with access to housing that exist in the Balearics in particular.
"A message has taken hold that the housing situation is an unsolvable problem, but this is not true. Yes, there is a solution, but it requires decisive public intervention, first and foremost from those administrations with the most authority - the regional governments and the town halls. Both with the proliferation of illegal tourist apartments, a problem known only too well in the Balearics, and with the current rental situation, administrations must act decisively in order to curb abuses, expand the public housing stock, regulate the market and guarantee rights. Monitoring and sanctions against websites that violate the law, such as the one imposed by the ministry of consumer affairs on Airbnb, or measures like the extension, are steps in that direction - providing security to those who currently live with uncertainty." (Airbnb was fined over €60 million in December last year for listing thousands of unlicensed or improperly registered tourist apartments.)
The minister insists that measures have been taken by the passing of a housing law which the PP refuse to implement in regions where they govern, one being the Balearics. "A party that boasts of doing nothing about housing. President Prohens has to choose whether she protects her party and a model that protects speculation, or whether she sides with those who live and work in the Balearic Islands and starts enforcing the law. Enough with the excuses."