The new Portuguese government takes its turn tackling the housing crisis

The government's plan provides for around thirty measures which must be adopted in the coming months in order to "respond to an essential problem which also corresponds to a fundamental right", declared Prime Minister Luis Montenegro during a press conference in Porto (north).

“In recent years, we have not met the needs” in terms of housing, even “if everything has not been done badly. What has been done well, we will keep,” indicated the head of government ( minority), who took over from a socialist at the beginning of April.

Portugal has been facing a housing crisis in recent years due to a sharp rise in prices driven by real estate speculation, which mainly affects large cities.

The previous socialist government had already adopted a package of measures last year to combat the housing crisis.

“We must boost the supply,” said Housing Minister Miguel Pinto Luz, specifying that one of the priorities will be to “make available” “thousands of public buildings for housing”.

The government has also planned aid and tax relief when purchasing property for young people, but also to suspend certain measures of the previous government - notably a limitation on seasonal rentals.

The executive wants to give decision-making power back to municipalities which will be able to choose whether or not to grant new licenses.

Mr. Montenegro, whose government does not have an absolute majority in Parliament, said he was ready to discuss these measures with the other parties.

“We are counting on all parliamentary groups” to discuss these proposals, he said.