PSOE to Reject Cantabria Housing Bill

Pedro Casares, leader of the PSOE in Cantabria, said on May 16 that his party will file an amendment seeking the outright rejection of the regional government’s housing bill, escalating the Socialists’ opposition to one of President María José Sáenz de Buruaga’s flagship measures. Casares announced the move at the party’s regional committee meeting in Santander, where the PSOE also approved a resolution calling on the PP-led government to withdraw the bill and use state housing funds to expand affordable rental housing. The bill has been in parliamentary processing since the Cantabrian government approved it on Sept. 30, 2025 and sent it to the regional chamber. Buruaga’s government has presented the law as a way to increase supply, mobilize empty homes and tighten protections against squatting, while the PSOE says it promotes speculation and refuses to apply Spain’s national housing law. ### What exactly did the PSOE announce on May 16? Pedro Casares said the Socialist parliamentary group would present an “enmienda a la totalidad,” a full rejection amendment, to the draft Housing Law of Cantabria. Europa Press reported that the party will also take a separate initiative to the regional parliament to amend the Land Law so that tourist-use homes or second residences cannot be built on rural land. (europapress.es) The Cantabrian PSOE said in its own resolution that the regional government should withdraw the housing bill altogether. The party added that Cantabria should use state housing-plan funds — which it said had tripled to more than 130 million euros for the region — to enlarge the stock of affordable public rental housing and apply national legislation, including the designation of stressed housing areas. (europapress.es) ### Why is the housing bill becoming a political fight? The Sept. 30, 2025 draft law is one of the PP government’s main housing measures. María José Sáenz de Buruaga said when presenting it that the law would be a “revulsivo” to increase housing supply, improve access for vulnerable groups and essential workers, and give owners greater legal certainty. The regional government said the text also seeks to mobilize about 50,000 empty homes, or 14% of the built residential stock, through incentives, aid and public guarantees. (psc-psoe.es) The same government presentation said the bill includes sanctions of up to 90,000 euros for using protected housing as tourist rentals and immediate-response measures against illegal occupation, including a victim-support office. Buruaga, who governs in minority, said at the time she wanted the law approved “as soon as possible” and with the broadest possible consensus. (cantabria.es) ### What are the Socialists saying is wrong with it? Pedro Casares said on May 16 that “Cantabria is not for sale,” accusing the PP of promoting speculation and refusing to apply national housing rules. He said the homes for rent that Buruaga has been announcing in Polanco, Torrelavega and Reinosa are financed by Pedro Sánchez’s central government, and he criticized the PP for attacking the state housing plan before accepting its funding. (europapress.es) The PSOE’s regional resolution said rising purchase and rental prices, the small public housing stock and pressure on urban and coastal areas require a stronger public response. The party said PP initiatives, including the housing bill, the Land Law changes and the regional territorial plan, move in the opposite direction by opening the door to second homes and holiday housing instead of guaranteeing access to housing. (europapress.es) ### How do Castro-Urdiales and the Santa Clotilde agreement enter this dispute? The May 16 Europa Press report said Casares used the housing announcement as part of a broader attack on the PP government’s record, arguing that “everything is worse.” The preliminary political framing around the party’s message also pointed to other disputes the PSOE has been using against the government, including delays around the Castro-Urdiales hospital project and criticism of the “convenio singular” with the private Santa Clotilde hospital. (psc-psoe.es) In January, the Cantabrian PSOE demanded that the regional government halt the Santa Clotilde agreement and redirect the planned 256 million euros to the public health service. In April, Cantabria’s parliament unanimously backed a motion requiring the government to provide data linked to the Castro-Urdiales health center and high-resolution hospital project, showing the issue was still active in the chamber weeks before Casares’s housing intervention. (europapress.es) ### Where does the bill stand now? The Cantabrian parliament admitted the housing bill for processing and sent it to the Employment and Social Policies Committee, according to the chamber’s bulletin. The parliamentary phase has already included disputes over expert appearances, with the PSOE saying in November 2025 that PP and Vox had blocked some requested witnesses. (psc-psoe.es) The next formal step is debate on the PSOE’s full rejection amendment in the regional parliament. That vote will determine whether the bill continues through committee and amendment stages or is sent back, with PP, PSOE, PRC and Vox holding the decisive seats in the chamber. (europapress.es) (parlamento-cantabria.es)