Más Madrid tags empty home doors in Spain, sparking controversy
Más Madrid is marking the doors of empty homes with green cards. Neighbours see it as encouraging squatting. Party leader Mónica García is under fire.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Más Madrid tags empty home doors and sparks controversy
Amid the housing crisis, the Spanish party Más Madrid has rolled out a strategy that leaves no one indifferent. Party volunteers have gone around streets in the Madrid region, sticking green cards on the doors of flats where no one answered. The message: "We came to see you but we missed you (Más Madrid)". They say the aim is to detect empty homes. But many neighbours read it very differently.
"It is a direct incitement to squatting," denounce some residents who have shared their outrage on social media. Más Madrid's own leader, Mónica García, who heads Spain's Health Ministry, has been caught up in the debate. Meanwhile, a question arises: if housing matters so much, why hasn't the party pushed for more measures from within the coalition government?
An alternative analysis proposes allocating a third of the revenue from the housing tax —around 17,400 million— to building public housing of 50-55 m², which would allow nearly 291,000 flats to be built. Instead, the party has chosen to mark doors. The controversy is served: some see a legitimate tool to pressure against empty homes; others, a prelude to illegal occupation.
Amid the housing crisis, the Spanish party Más Madrid has rolled out a strategy that leaves no one indifferent. Party volunteers have gone around streets in the Madrid region, sticking green cards on the doors of flats where no one answered. The message: "We came to see you but we missed you (Más Madrid)". They say the aim is to detect empty homes. But many neighbours read it very differently.
"It is a direct incitement to squatting," denounce some residents who have shared their outrage on social media. Más Madrid's own leader, Mónica García, who heads Spain's Health Ministry, has been caught up in the debate. Meanwhile, a question arises: if housing matters so much, why hasn't the party pushed for more measures from within the coalition government?
An alternative analysis proposes allocating a third of the revenue from the housing tax —around 17,400 million— to building public housing of 50-55 m², which would allow nearly 291,000 flats to be built. Instead, the party has chosen to mark doors. The controversy is served: some see a legitimate tool to pressure against empty homes; others, a prelude to illegal occupation.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (45 replies).
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