Junts and PP have halted the Catalan law against speculative property purchases. Their request for a legal review pushes the final vote to October. The move intensifies the political clash over housing regulation in the region.
The Catalan Parliament’s plan to restrict speculative housing purchases has hit a major obstacle after Junts and the Partido Popular (PP) demanded a review by the Consejo de Garantías Estatutarias (CGE). This procedural move immediately suspends the legislative process, making it impossible for the law to be approved before the summer recess. The final vote is now expected no earlier than October, disrupting the timeline set by the law’s backers, Comuns.
The proposal, designed to give municipalities the power to limit speculative real estate transactions in high-pressure areas, was set for fast-track approval through a single-reading process. This approach, supported by PSC, ERC, and Comuns, aimed to bypass lengthy debates and expert hearings. However, Junts and PP argue that the law raises constitutional concerns, particularly regarding property rights, municipal authority, and compliance with European regulations on business freedom and service provision.
Salvador Vergés, Junts’ spokesperson in the Parliament, criticized the single-reading procedure, claiming it stifles debate and excludes input from professional associations and experts. He also warned that the law could create inconsistent rules between neighboring municipalities, as each would decide independently whether to apply the restrictions. According to Vergés, the real solution to Catalonia’s housing crisis lies in increasing supply, not imposing new limits on buyers.
PP’s parliamentary leader, Lorena Roldán, echoed these concerns, insisting that the CGE must assess the law’s constitutionality before any further steps are taken. Both parties will formally submit their request for a legal opinion after the ten-day amendment period, triggering a seven-day review by the CGE. The combined deadlines ensure the law cannot be passed in the last plenary session before the summer break.
Comuns, the driving force behind the proposal, have sharply criticized Junts and PP for what they see as a defense of real estate industry interests. David Cid, Comuns’ spokesperson, accused Junts of acting on behalf of property developers and described the alliance of Junts, PP, and Vox as a “tripartite of the employers” opposed to regulating the housing market.
Meanwhile, the Catalan government’s spokesperson, Sílvia Paneque, expressed respect for the legal challenge but lamented that Junts and PP are using procedural tools to block what she described as a “country mission.” Paneque urged the opposition to focus on constructive proposals rather than obstructing the legislative process. The government had previously commissioned reports supporting temporary restrictions on speculative buying in overheated markets.
This legislative standoff comes amid broader debates over housing policy in Spain. In other regions, legal battles over property development have also made headlines, such as the recent case in Galicia where the High Court overturned a challenge to luxury villa licenses, highlighting the complexity of balancing local authority and market regulation. For more on regional housing disputes, see the analysis of the Galician court’s decision regarding the Cabo Estai villas in Vigo: Galician court upholds municipal license for luxury housing project.
As the Catalan Parliament prepares for a delayed showdown in the autumn, the outcome will likely influence future housing policy debates across Spain. The controversy underscores the persistent tension between efforts to regulate the property market and the push to expand housing supply, a challenge that remains unresolved in many Spanish regions.
