October has always been a month of revolutions, and this one seems unstoppable

A viral post criticizes the creation of an urban planning commission, calling it a political sinecure. The term refers to bodies created more to hand out positions than to solve problems.

The post circulating on social media is brief and blunt: "The left sets up an urban planning commission. They are experts at creating sinecures out of nothing." The phrase, attributed to the account **@Betania**, sums up a recurring criticism in Spanish public debate: the suspicion that certain public bodies are created more to place loyalists than to solve concrete problems.

## What is an urban planning commission

An urban planning commission is a technical or political body responsible for evaluating, approving or supervising land-use plans, permits and property developments. Its real function is to make decisions about land, housing and the city. The problem arises when its creation is seen as responding to partisan criteria rather than a technical need.

In Spain, urban planning falls under regional and municipal jurisdiction, which multiplies the number of such bodies. The "sinecure" criticism is nothing new: it is applied to any public entity whose usefulness is questioned and whose staff are suspected of being appointed for political affinity.

## The housing context

The post comes at a time of tension over housing prices and public policies to contain them. In this climate, any new body related to urban planning is examined closely. The accusation of "setting up sinecures" taps into broader discontent over public spending and the effectiveness of the administration.

The post contains no data on how many people sit on the commission, what it costs or what its exact powers are. Without that information, the criticism stays in the realm of political opinion, not verifiable facts.