The Government trusts a political heavyweight from the Ministry of Housing to replace David Lucas, who passed away on July 20, at the head of the Secretariat of State for Housing and Urban Agenda. The Council of Ministers appointed Leire Iglesias to the position this Tuesday, until now president of the state company Casa 47, former socialist deputy and former councilor of the Junta of Extremadura.
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Iglesias has been responsible, within the structure of the department led by Isabel Rodríguez, for the creation and implementation of the state housing and land entity Casa 47 from the transformation of the former company Sepes. The goal of this public company is to create a stable stock of affordable housing.
Previously, Iglesias was councilor of Mobility, Transport and Housing of the Junta of Extremadura. During her term in that region, the 2022-2027 Housing Plan was approved; the modification of the Law on promotion and access to housing in Extremadura, and the creation of the acquisition guarantee fund, the guarantee mechanism for accommodation and rehousing, and the tax on empty homes to fulfill their social function.
The new secretary of state has been in charge during this legislature of transforming Sepes into Casa 47, designing all the processes to turn a company that managed land — largely industrial — into a state company that will house the residential assets of Sareb (Asset Management Company from the Banking Restructuring, also known as the bad bank), as well as urbanizing, promoting, buying, and managing houses for rent.
The new number two of the ministry has extensive political experience. As housing spokesperson for the Socialist Parliamentary Group in the Congress of Deputies during the X Legislature (from 2011 to 2015), she was rapporteur of the bills on rehabilitation, regeneration and urban renewal; measures to flexibilize and promote the rental housing market; and urgent measures to strengthen protection for mortgage debtors. She was also rapporteur of the bill regulating payment in kind, halting evictions, and social rent, as recalled by the department led by Isabel Rodríguez in a note sent to the media. Previously, Iglesias had been councilor of Culture and Equality and director general of Injuve (between 2004 and 2008).
New president of Casa 47
At the same time, the Council of Ministers has appointed Maribel Ramos as the new president of Casa 47, who has served as director of the affordable housing park of this state company and was previously deputy director general of Hogar Sí. Ramos thus takes over from Iglesias in the state entity.
The changes come after the death of Lucas, who had served as number two of the ministry since 2023, although he was also secretary general of Housing of the department before. Lucas, who died on July 20 after announcing at the end of June that he was suspending his political activity to undergo oncological treatment, was mayor of Móstoles between 2015 and 2018, after having served as councilor in that same city and also in the municipalities of Getafe (1999-2007) and Madrid (2007-2011).
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