The VOX motion to better protect Manilva residents from illegal squatting has been passed with the votes of only 6 of the 16 councillors who make up the municipal corporation; a situation described by Antonio Marín as «incomprehensible» and one that «should have been approved with the unanimous vote of all Manilva’s councillors»
In a recent address at the Manilva Town Hall council meeting, the VOX Municipal Group, represented by councillor Antonio Marín, presented a motion focused on the fight against illegal squatting of homes and in support of owners «deprived of their right to private property». Marín stressed the importance of this measure, citing Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to property both individually and collectively. The motion passed with six votes in favour, the minimum required, one vote against and nine abstentions.
«We are witnessing an alarming social phenomenon in which fundamental rights, such as freedom, security and the inviolability of the home, are threatened by the illegal occupation of homes», said Marín. He added that the act of squatting «goes against what is established in the Spanish Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which makes the adoption of urgent measures necessary».
As the VOX councillor explained, «the fact that a good part of the regulation needed to tackle this phenomenon is in the hands of the State» and, therefore, beyond the reach of the autonomous communities and local bodies or local administration, «does not exempt them from the obligation to tackle this phenomenon, as far as possible». A situation, he continued, in which «the presence of organised criminal gangs has even been detected, who exploit the situation, offering homes for rent or sale without the knowledge of their legitimate owners or demanding large sums to return them». The main victims of these crimes against private property, Marín lamented, «are mainly small owners and savers, that is, workers who wanted to save, and knew how to, through property», which, incidentally, has been the main way of saving in our country in recent decades.
The measures proposed by VOX in this initiative have been classified as «preventive, informative and resolutive». Regarding the informative measures, Marín highlighted «the creation of a free telephone number available 24 hours a day to assist victims of illegal squatting», as well as the «creation of a specific section on the online portal and social media» as a public information service, and the implementation of «information campaigns through the municipal media». These initiatives seek, the VOX councillor said, to «educate and raise public awareness about how to act in cases of illegal squatting and about the resources available for its prevention and handling».
According to Antonio Marín, the preventive measures proposed by VOX to combat illegal squatting in Manilva include action on abandoned buildings and housing developments. Marín stressed the importance of «rigorously applying existing legislation to maintain public safety and appearance». This includes the «subsidiary execution of the necessary works by the Town Hall, in the event of non-compliance». Likewise, he specified, «where necessary, declaring properties to be in a state of urban ruin, obliging owners to opt for demolition or complete refurbishment».
On the resolutive side, Marín stressed the importance of «specialised and ongoing training for the Local Police in matters of illegal squatting». He also highlighted the «creation of a coordinated action protocol between the Local Police, Guardia Civil and Social Services», as well as a «legal and administrative assistance service for people affected by the illegal squatting of their property»; and the «creation of a general register of complaints», to collect information on squatting complaints in the municipality. These measures are intended to «guarantee an effective and coordinated response to these crimes».
The proposal was passed by the narrowest of margins, with 6 votes in favour (1 from VOX, 4 from the Partido Popular, 1 from Compromiso Manilva), 1 vote against (1 from Compromiso Manilva) and 9 abstentions (4 Con Andalucía, 3 from the PSOE, 2 from Compromiso Manilva). A proposal that, as Antonio Marín pointed out, «should have been approved unanimously» and yet «passed with many reservations on the part of the Partido Popular, the lack of interest shown by Con Andalucía and the PSOE», as well as with the «inexplicable vote against» of a Compromiso Manilva councillor.
To conclude, Antonio Marín regretted that, «in view of the result of the vote» and, therefore, the «incomprehensible positions» regarding the «protection of legality and the property of Manilva residents», it might be understood that, «in some way», in Manilva, «there may be those who benefit from the lack of protection against squatting».
View the full document submitted by VOX by clicking here.
