The president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, has called for limits on unchecked market forces and speculation in housing, reaffirming the right to affordable homes for vulnerable people during a public event in Barcelona today.
Illa spoke at the launch of the report Vidas Futuras: Un día en 2050 at the Disseny Hub Barcelona (DHub), an event also attended by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni. The report, led by Spain’s National Office for Foresight and Strategy, aims to anticipate societal changes and shape future public policies.
We must put limits on the unrestrained power of money, on greed, on speculation.
Addressing the audience, Illa stated: "We must put limits on the unrestrained power of money, on greed, on speculation." He emphasized that the Catalan government stands with those in need, particularly in securing the constitutionally recognized right to housing.
"The government is by the side of vulnerable people in housing and in all matters," Illa said, stressing that public authorities must protect citizens' access to a fundamental right. He warned against narratives that focus only on risks, saying they breed fear and often scapegoat the most vulnerable.
This stance aligns with previous actions by the Catalan government. Illa has previously described housing as "a right, not a business" and launched an ambitious plan to build 50,000 affordable homes by 2030. The administration has also implemented regulatory measures, including a collaboration framework with the Tarragona Episcopal Conference to convert underused church properties into social housing.
Recent data cited by Illa shows a decline in housing prices in Catalonia, with a 3.7% drop overall and a 6.4% decrease in municipalities designated as tension zones, including Barcelona. He credited these results to effective application of housing regulations and inter-institutional cooperation.
"When we work together, using the right tools like the housing law, the results are positive for citizens," Illa said, highlighting Catalonia’s pioneering role in regulatory enforcement.
Primary sources: govern.cat, futuros.gob.es, icaen.gencat.cat, agenda.cultura.gencat.cat, ajuntament.barcelona.cat, Servei d'Informació Ambiental, mediambient.repositori.gencat.cat, lamoncloa.gob.es. Reported by diaricatalunya.cat, Diari Catalunya.
