Briefing
Mónica Oltra, candidate for Compromís ’s city council, Valènciaon 26 September 2026, at an internal party training event organised by Iniciativa-Compromís voiced sharp criticism of the housing policies of Partido Popular and Partido Socialista. Oltra described cities as “spaces of resistance and hope” and urged her party to prepare for government. As a specific example, she cited the widely reported eviction of 87-year-old “Maricarmen” in Madrid, the enforcement of which drew nationwide attention and outrage.
Oltra accused the politically dominant camp of failing to adequately enforce safeguards against speculative practices in the housing market. In her speech, she explicitly referred to debates over the Ley 12/2023 — Spain’s law on the right to housing — and ongoing parliamentary initiatives that seek, among other things, to regulate more strictly the role of legal entities in acquiring residential property. Her criticism also addressed the implementation of existing measures: municipalities could use the designation of so-called “stressed” areas to curb rent rises, expand social housing and tighten requirements for major property players.
From a Valencian perspective, Oltra attacked the incumbent mayor, María José Catalá (Partido Popular), saying that the city administration had failed to take opportunities in 2023 to limit rent increases. This assessment is politically disputed and rejected by opponents; nevertheless, it is a central point of contention in the municipal election campaign.
What is established as fact is that Oltra publicly expressed these positions in València on 26 September and used the “Maricarmen” case as a symbol of structural problems in the housing market. Whether this will lead directly to political majorities in València depends on future council decisions on the application of Ley 12/2023, municipal protection measures and specific regulations for large property owners. Oltra’s appearance has intensified the debate and increased pressure on Partido Popular and Partido Socialista to set out their housing policies more clearly before the next election.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).