Housing has become a fresh point of attack between the parties, with the PP challenging PSOE spokeswoman Montse Mínguez to debate after reports linked her partner, Sergi Vélez, to a rental business managing at least 30 flats and apartments, mainly in Lleida. The dispute has also prompted accusations of hypocrisy, including in a seven-second PP video showing a banner being hung on the façade of the PSOE’s national headquarters on Ferraz street, accompanied by vulture sounds.
On October 14, the PP formally called for a “serious and in-depth” debate on housing policy with Mínguez. The party had also accused the socialists of hypocrisy in a video posted to its social media accounts.
The dispute is unfolding as housing remains a political battleground. A wider campaign account outlines the different approaches taken by the PSOE and PP. Attention has turned to the rental business linked to Mínguez’s partner and the reported property holdings. Nest Capital, the group Vélez leads, is based in Lleida and handles property acquisition and renovation, then rents and commercialises properties. Reports linked the properties to companies associated with Vélez’s rental activity, not to ownership by Mínguez herself.
Artículo 14 reported that the group manages at least 30 flats and apartments, mainly in Lleida. It also reported that Vélez’s holding company has several million euros in property. El Español separately reported that Nest Capital Homes had at least 30 residential properties for rent. The outlet said Vélez had two companies in Panama. Artículo 14 also reported tenant evictions.
El Español estimated annual rental income at about €471,000, with average monthly rent around €1,300. elEconomista reported that Nest Capital Homes had more than €6 million in property investment in its latest accounts filed with the Commercial Registry. The publication also reported that Vélez manages four rental companies and four construction companies.
Speaking on Antena 3 on Tuesday, Mínguez described the business as a family rental company operating within the law. The PSOE said its activity was independent of her political duties. In Catalonia, it is subject to the Housing Law and rent reference prices; rules for areas under housing-market pressure also apply. The Government has defended the activity as lawful and argued that the central question is who is prepared to guarantee the right to housing.
PP parliamentary spokeswoman Ester Muñoz responded to an October 5 post by Mínguez on X about voting for housing with a pun accusing the socialists of acting like vultures. PP deputy spokeswoman Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo pointed to the name Nest Capital, Vélez’s company, and said that “nest” means a nest in English.
The PP tied its campaign to the Nest Capital name and the reported rental holdings.
Artículo 14 reported the tenant evictions. Mínguez said that “personal attacks are the worst thing in politics.”
