“The government’s strategy in terms of construction and accelerating construction is correct, but since building takes years, it’s necessary to find a solution in the meantime because people cannot endure five years without housing or at the prices they are faced with,” said the former PSD leader in the municipality of Arganil, within the district of Coimbra.
During a visit to the burnt areas of Serra do Açor and the firefighters in Coja and Arganil, the location of the largest national fire in mid-August, Marques Mendes urged the government to invest in and review the rental market.
The former minister and presidential candidate highlighted the need to “mobilize the rental market while it takes time to construct new homes.”
“The alternative is the rental market that has not functioned because past governments did not make life easier [for the sector],” he emphasized.
The presidential candidate stated that it is necessary to create conditions so that property owners feel there is stability in the rules and decide to rent out their properties.
“It is necessary to create conditions of stability and predictability for landlords to offer rentals. This probably involves a new attitude and some legal changes, but this alternative is necessary,” he accentuated.
The president of the PSD and prime minister announced on Sunday more investment in affordable housing and that the government will set a deadline for state departments to justify unused property holdings.
At the closing session of the 21st edition of the PSD Summer University in Castelo de Vide (Portalegre), Luís Montenegro announced that the government intends to provide “a new boost to housing” this week and unveiled several measures.
As a first measure, he announced that an agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for a new credit line of 1.3 billion euros for affordable housing will be signed this Thursday.
Moreover, the government aims to go “further” in utilizing state property, setting a deadline for all public entities to explain why these assets are not being used.
In his visit to the Coja Volunteer Firefighters, which includes the historic village of Piódão where the largest national fire started, Marques Mendes advocated for a national tribute to Portuguese firefighters “for the remarkable work they have done,” to be promoted by the President of the Republic.
“A tribute that serves as an opportunity to highlight the need to encourage firefighters, to retain and attract them,” said the presidential candidate, who reiterated the idea of including international experts in the technical independent commission that will analyze this summer’s fires.
Marques Mendes once again emphasized that the government should include local municipalities in the strategies for preventing and combating rural fires to achieve better results.
