The leadership of the Lisbon City Council withdrew the proposal for the approval of the Municipal Housing Charter (CMH). They alleged a lack of consensus with the opposition parties, which presented proposals for amendment.
Lack of Political Consensus
The proposal, signed by the Housing Councillor, Filipa Roseta (PSD), was on the agenda of the private meeting of the Lisbon City Council. The meeting was chaired by the Social Democrat Carlos Moedas this Wednesday.
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The proposal on the Lisbon CMH, for final approval and submission to the Municipal Assembly, was in public consultation until April. The councilor responsible for Housing at Lisbon City Council talked to the media and lamented the lack of political consensus regarding the CMH.
She stressed that there was a discussion that lasted two years about this letter. Roseta said:
It was found that there was no consensus here on the charter, that there was no support here for this municipal charter to go ahead, much to my regret. After two years of hard work, of a lot of participation, it was found that the parties do not want this charter.
Opposition to Socialist Amendments
The PS, BE, and Livre submitted proposals for changes to the CMH during the meeting. However, the one from the socialists received the most criticism from the Housing Councillor. The Mayor of Lisbon criticized that:
The Socialist Party is proposing to change figures that are objective and factual , supported by primary sources such as the National Statistics Institute (INE). They wanted to erase history. We do not accept that history be erased.
Furthermore, Filipa Roseta explained that the disagreement with the proposal from BE is political, as it aimed to introduce changes like ending affordable rental programs under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and regulating local accommodation and hotel activities.
The mayor didn’t consider Livre’s proposal since it arrived an hour after the meeting began. He also added that no new proposal will be made regarding the CMH during this term. Carlos Moedas said that:
I am very sorry. We will continue to do our best and hope that in the next elections people will actually show what makes sense in this city. Whether it is those who do or those who talk and do not let others do it.
Socialist Criticism of Withdrawal
The PS councilors classified the withdrawal of the CMH proposal as a pathetic attempt at victimization and the creation of a political fact. The socialist stated that:
Without anyone understanding why, and when it was expected that the Municipal Housing Charter would be approved, councillor Filipa Roseta withdrew the document from the vote. A pathetic attempt to victimise and create a political fact that does not match the tone or the tenor of the debate.
Addressing the complaint about wanting to delete graphs, the PS councilor clarified that Lisbon City Council possesses more reliable and rigorous data than the INE. She argued:
INE data cannot override that of the owner of the project, Lisbon City Council, which obviously knows better than anyone how many buildings it built and where.
Regret from BE of Lisbon
BE of Lisbon expressed regret over the withdrawal of the proposal. They emphasized that the changes suggested by Bloco members align with the contributions made by citizens during the public consultation on the Municipal Housing Charter.
The party pointed out that:
The contributions made by residents in the public consultation on the Municipal Housing Charter pointed towards greater restrictions on local accommodation and hotels, a demand for more affordable public housing and the creation of inclusive zoning, in which private developers are obliged to provide housing for public purposes.
Position from Livre
Moreover, Livre told the media that it presented proposals to amend the Municipal Housing Charter, responding to several appeals from a highly participatory public consultation and believing that it would be possible to improve this structuring document. They further said that:
However, the Housing Councillor decided to withdraw the letter from today’s meeting, preventing the proposals from being voted on, and without accepting any changes, leaving Lisbon without an essential strategic document to combat the housing crisis that has been worsening.
The PCP councilors highlighted that even without the CMH, not a single house has its construction halted, nor is any public housing rehabilitation interrupted or delayed. However, they noted the need to address the remaining gap in the definition of local public policy.
The elected representatives assured that:
The defense of the right to housing in Lisbon is justified by a reinforced need and emergency. Lisbon needs a local housing policy and the CDU will be here to participate in its construction.
Regret from Cidadãos Por Lisboa
Similarly, the councilors of Cidadãos Por Lisboa expressed regret over the unexpected withdrawal of the Municipal Housing Charter proposal. They believe that it was a missed opportunity for the city. They pointed out:
We understand that this was a missed opportunity for the City of Lisbon to approve a Charter that would change policies and instruments such as the Municipal Master Plan, the substantial increase in municipal housing, the regulation of Local Accommodation, the regulation of the real estate market, the imposition of affordable housing quotas, among others, to respond to the current housing crisis.
The CMH proposal, described as a strategic instrument for municipal intervention, outlined an investment of 918 million euros over a 10-year period.
