Alicante’s Housing Debate: Unified Local Parties Push for Reforms
The Alicante scene sees political forces aligned with the European Union backing regional actors. Podem, ERPV, and Alianza Verde have named candidates for the upcoming municipal elections on May 28. They pledge bold housing measures if they win control of the city hall. One key proposal is a mechanism to trigger foreclosures on large owners who hold more than a dozen vacant homes. This plan emerged during a housing demonstration led by regional housing minister Héctor Illueca in Zona Alta. It responds to a wave of evictions perceived as unfair, rising rents and purchase prices, and a growing gap in available apartments across the city. Illueca indicated that around 1 percent of the Generalitat’s budget, about 300 million euros, would support this policy, with a focus on regenerating vulnerable neighborhoods and placing housing at the center of the coalition’s agenda.
The housing minister met with mayoral hopefuls Manolo Copé and Xavier López at Plaza de Algeria, where a community assembly highlighted neighborhood assets. The participants stressed the housing crisis in an area hit hard by neglect and limited public funding.
Among the campaign targets for the next legislative term is expanding the Community Regeneration of Vulnerable Neighborhoods Programme. Proposals include creating a Municipal Housing Board and a Housing Department, launching a plan to construct and rehabilitate social rental housing, and boosting intergenerational housing across Alicante’s districts.
Manolo Copé, the coalition’s mayoral candidate, observed that many parties are now proposing housing measures. He pointed out that after forty years of bipartisan governance, neither the PP nor the PSOE managed to keep housing from becoming a market commodity instead of a basic right. Copé urged urgent steps to ensure that young residents in Alicante do not spend more than a portion of their income on rent, advocating for an expanded public housing stock and rent controls that address price increases partly driven by tourism pressures.
Illueca: “Housing rights lie at the heart of the debate”
Unides Podem councilor and second in the merged candidacy, Xavier López, emphasized the need for cooperation with the Generalitat to implement a first refusal and withdrawal agreement to regulate the vacation home market. He also supported gradual tax reforms to prevent neighborhoods from turning into theme parks or displacement islands where residents are pushed out. The plan would ensure properties do not simply fall into investment funds and would pursue stronger taxation on large homeowners.
The proposals frame housing as a social asset, countering speculation and directing revenues toward public housing development. Local leaders argue that deliberate investment in affordable homes can stabilize communities, reduce displacement, and preserve neighborhood character amid rising tourism activity. The emphasis is on practical steps to expand rental housing access, improve housing quality, and shield long term residents from escalating costs.
Analysts note that the Alicante election will test whether the unified coalition can translate rhetoric into concrete policy in a market shaped by investment funds and short term rental dynamics. Supporters say the plan could foster a more inclusive housing ecosystem, while critics may question its fiscal feasibility and potential effects on property owners. The central argument remains clear: housing is a defining issue for residents seeking stability, affordability, and dignified living conditions in a city undergoing rapid change.
In summary, the Alicante debate centers on turning housing into a right rather than a market commodity, with a practical path toward social housing expansion, neighborhood renewal, and clearer rules for holiday and investment properties. The parties maintain that addressing housing needs now is essential to sustaining vibrant, diverse neighborhoods for current residents and future generations.
On a broader scale, observers suggest the outcome could influence regional policy, signaling how municipal and regional governments coordinate to balance growth with social protections. The Alicante campaign illustrates a wider shift across parts of Spain and Europe, where housing justice has moved to the forefront of political dialogue. The forthcoming election will reveal how effectively these ideas resonate with voters seeking tangible improvements in daily life for renters, homeowners, and city residents alike.
This article reports on statements and positions presented during campaign activities and reflects the perspectives of the involved parties. Attribution: coverage by regional and national media.