President Marcelo queries sense in law coming in year of municipal elections
Changes to the diploma that allows the reclassification of rural land into urban land for house construction will be voted on today in the specialty stage, in parliament – with proposals from several parties, including ruling PSD, which has accepted the main changes defended by PS socialists.
Decree-Law 117/2024, of December 30, which amends the Legal Framework for Territorial Management Instruments (RJIGT), allows rural land to be reclassified into urban land for housing.
Amendments coming up for voting by parliamentary committee for Economy, Public Works and Housing come from PS, PSD, CHEGA, Iniciativa Liberal (IL), BE and LIVRE – the final four of which are extremely dubious about the changes.
The diploma came into force on January 29, after parliamentary assessment requested by BE, PCP, Livre and PAN. A number of resolutions to try and cease its validity failed, with the PS ‘abstaining from voting’ on the basis that the diploma could be taken to this speciality phase.
The PS changes include replacing the government’s wording of “moderate value” housing with “affordable”, and “controlled cost” rental, and updating the concept that land could be reclassified if it lay “contiguous with urban land” to a scenario in which it can only be reclassified if there is an “absence of available urban areas”.
Concerns all the way through these debates have been that the centre-right is opening yet another avenue for property speculation that will not help those who truly need instruments that help secure an affordable roof over their heads.
Another change targets REN areas (National Ecological Reserve) and proposes the need for a non-binding opinion from the Regional Coordination and Development Commissions (CCDR) on the reclassification of rural land to urban land, and blocks reclassification in areas considered “strategic for infiltration and protection and recharge of aquifers”, of “high risk of water erosion of the soil” and where there is “instability of slopes”.
PS socialists also want to revoke the possibility of building housing for agricultural workers outside existing urban areas.
Social Democrats are hoping the diploma with the amendments goes through as “retroactive to December 31, 2024”.
CHEGA, BE, and LIVRE all have their own proposals, further restricting the reclassification of rural land, as truly once rural land is made urban, that is it: it will be lost forever.
After today’s committee vote, the amendments will go back to parliament for a final global vote and then on to President Marcelo for promulgation.
Yesterday, Marcelo repeated his concerns over this whole process, particularly as it is being brought in in a crucial year of municipal elections in which all parties will be ‘fighting tooth and nail’ for every vote, on the basis that the country has an infinitely precarious government (which could easily fall in the autumn if the State Budget is not approved), therefore, consolidating support across local government will be seen as vital.
Source material: LUSA
