The PSOE of Lanzarote has celebrated the removal of nearly 9,000 illegal tourist homes in the Canary Islands, a measure promoted by the Government of Spain that, according to the socialists, "restores hope to thousands of young people and families who could not access rent" and responds to an urgent need of the citizens.
The general secretary of the PSOE of Lanzarote and deputy in Congress, María Dolores Corujo, has stressed that this action demonstrates that "it is possible to act against fraud and speculation that have turned housing into a luxury for many working families."
"Faced with the inaction of the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of Lanzarote, it had to be the socialist Government of Spain that took the step, because without affordable homes there is no possible future for this land," she said.
Corujo recalled that Coalición Canaria, Partido Popular and Vox voted against the single registry of vacation homes, which for the socialists is "a key tool to fight against fraud and control the impact of tourist rentals on the residential market." "They love to declare emergencies, but then they are not able to articulate real measures to solve the crises that affect the population," she denounced.
The socialist leader has highlighted that the Canary Islands is the autonomous community that leads in applications for revoked registrations, with a total of 8,705 annulled files, well above other tourist regions of the country. "This data reflects the magnitude of the problem we suffer in the islands and the need to act firmly to guarantee the right to housing," she pointed out.
Corujo has also warned that the simple announcement of a future Vacation Housing Law, which has not even come into force, has caused a call effect, shooting up the number of Vacation Homes by more than 82% in the Canary Islands, being more pressing in Lanzarote. "That irresponsibility has had dramatic consequences for the people of our islands," she added.
From the PSOE of Lanzarote insist that it is essential to apply the current legislation and stop the proliferation of illegal tourist homes to protect the right to housing. "Without decent and accessible homes, there is no way to build a life project, or to guarantee the roots of our people in their own land," Corujo concluded.