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Socialist Party Pushes Bill Granting Veto Power Over Local Tourist Accommodations

2 January 2018

The Portuguese Socialist Party (PS) delivered the bill on the last day before the parliamentary deadline. The proposal will be discussed on Friday. António Costa and Fernando Medina have already criticised the measure.

This Friday, the PS’s parliamentary grouping will defend their proposal to create a law that would oblige property owners who wish to convert their flats into local tourist accommodations to obtain prior authorisation from their condominium board. The proposal is controversial even among socialists – starting with Portugal’s Socialist prime minister, António Costa, who has already demonstrated his disagreement with the parliamentary group’s leadership, the Diário de Notícias reported.

Fernando Medina, the mayor of Lisbon, also opposes the measure. But the MPs decided to go ahead with the proposal, having received support by two vice-presidents of the socialist group.  The project joins other measures put forth by the Left Block, the PCP and the CDS. Despite internal criticisms, the PS scheduled debate on the project on the last day permitted by parliamentary deadlines.

Although the bills are discussed this week, it appears unlikely that it will proceed to a vote. According to Luis Testa, the Socialist’s coordinator on the parliamentary committee on the economy, where the PS’s project was presented, the party’s bench is willing to table the measure without a vote. Mr Testa asked for an “open” discussion regarding alternative policies for the sector, admitting a possible replacement text negotiated among the various political groupings.

Original Story: Economia Online

Translation: Richard Turner