🇵🇹 Portugal's politics and elections 3.0

[omar04]

https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/portugal-ends-golden-visas-curtails-airbnb-rentals-address-housing-crisis-2023-02-16/


Portugal ends Golden Visas, curtails Airbnb rentals to address housing crisis

[omar04]

https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/portugal-ends-golden-visas-curtails-airbnb-rentals-address-housing-crisis-2023-02-16/


Portugal ends Golden Visas, curtails Airbnb rentals to address housing crisis

Yes, I posted the main policies of this program a few posts above. However, the program itself is being trashed by almost everyone. Several media outlets are labeling the Housing program as "The Soviet Package", "PREC 2.0", and "Venezuela of Europe", which are not very flattering titles to say the least. The main criticism towards the plan is the mandatory lease of vacant houses, which many, including some Socialists, say it could violate property rights and, at the same time, gives a wrong message to property owners. In fact, the talking point "the State is going to take away your property" is being said a lot, and the fact the plan is very vague and the government isn't explaining it well, or at all, gives more boost to this talking point. Rightwing parties are pressing on that point, while leftwing parties accuse Costa of completely resigning to the State responsibility of ensuring social housing, and point to several broken promisses, of the last 7 years, in which not one social housing project was initiated. Only 2% of the housing stock in Portugal is social.

Regarding local accommodation, or Airbnb rentals, there are also some criticisms as the plan, again very vague, seems to run over local government regulations, that were already imposing limits to Airbnb rentals, and that limiting them will not put more houses on the market as many are 2nd homes or unable to house families. Plus, many also point to the fact the Airbnb rentals amount to 40% of all tourist accommodation in Portugal, and that stong limitations and/or barriers could hurt the Tourism economy, which is the "golden goose" of the Portuguese economy.

The government says that all policies proposed are up for discussion for a month and they are open for changes and improvements. The Tourism secretary even said he's open to changes in the local accommodation (Airbnb) proposals, while several pundits and experts are predicting that several policies will go to the trash can until mid March.

Has the opposition made any connections between the immigration amnesty and the housing crisis programs? Also, how poor is Portugal and the Portuguese compared to the rest of Europe? Is it common for workers to make less than a thousand euros monthly?