Bilbao (EFE)
Ortuzar has responded in this way, in the act of presenting the electoral motto of his formation for the local and foral elections of 28M, to the minister spokesperson for the Government, Isabel Rodríguez.
The minister has opined that it is “difficult to justify” that the PNV does not support the Housing Law because it is “absolutely respectful” with the exclusive competence of the communities in this matter.
The nationalist leader has pointed out that from the point of view of jurisdiction and respect for the Statute of Gernika, “the invasion of jurisdiction is from the book, very clear.”
“From there -he has emphasized-, everything else obliges the Basque institutions, in this case, to comply with the provisions of that Law; among other questions, who and how the Housing Fund is constituted, and where and how the famous stressed areas are determined, etc”.
“And this invasion of the book, because housing is the exclusive responsibility of the autonomous communities, we do not like it and we cannot accept it, even if we consider that its content is good for the State”, he meant.
The Minister for Territorial Policy and Government spokesperson, Isabel Rodríguez, during her speech at an electoral event with the candidate for Mayor of Bilbao, Nora Abete. EFE/Luis Tejido
“We cannot accept that this goodness for the State is built on the basis of the denial, limitation or rupture of Basque self-government”, he added.
“Good things” in the Law
The leader of the Basque nationalists has added that, on the material content of the Law that is going to be processed in Congress, the PNV is willing to talk with the Government, because “it has good things, such as the issue of rent ceilings , etc”.
“But where is the regulation of tourist apartments in that Law? -he has wondered-, because one of the things that worries the mayors of tourist cities is the regulation of these houses and that I know of, it is not mentioned much in the Law”.
“I would say to the minister spokesperson – Ortuzar continued – that, instead of telling me if I have it difficult to justify, that they make an effort to negotiate with the PNV and other groups that are not directly against the material content of this Law, but we are radically against the invasion of powers”.
Questioned by another of Minister Isabel Rodríguez’s statements that what concerns the public is that the problems are resolved, not which is the competent institution, Ortuzar has jumped that “it will be her who does not care about this issue” .
The defense of self-government
“It matters a lot to us, because the defense of Basque self-government is in the DNA of the PNV, and the people also care a lot because the powers are what give us things to eat every day,” he added.
“That is precisely one of the problems we have; that, indeed, the Spanish Government does not care too much about Basque competences”, he lamented.
Lastly, Ortuzar pointed out that he highly respects the minister spokesperson, “but there are times when it is better to be silent.”
Law “respectful” with the CCAA
For her part, Isabel Rodríguez, has considered it “difficult to justify” that the PNV does not support the Housing Law because it is “absolutely respectful” of the exclusive competence of the communities in this matter.
In an electoral act of the PSE-EE in Bilbao, Rodríguez has recognized that housing policy is an “indisputable” competence of the autonomous communities.
The Government, has highlighted, what it does with the Housing Law is “accompany them” because “it turns out that the Constitution recognizes the right to housing, but it is not only a right, but it is a problem that must be answered” .
In addition, he has added that without guaranteeing housing, especially for young people to become independent, the Welfare State will not be “completed”.
Rodríguez has asked “not to forget” that what concerns the public is that the problems are solved, not who is the competent institution, and has given the health management of the covid-19 pandemic as an example. EFE
The PNV entry: The Housing Law is an invasion of the self-government book was first published in EFE Noticias.