Long and the short is, you can't have European freedoms without European obligations. These hacks won't work. Why not be pro-European instead? 3 www.theguardian.com/... - ThreadSky

nialloconghaile.bsky.social • 48 days ago

Long and the short is, you can't have European freedoms without European obligations.

These hacks won't work.

Why not be pro-European instead?

3

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/13/spain-proposes-100-tax-on-homes-bought-by-non-eu-residents

Comments

nialloconghaile.bsky.social•48 days ago

On another note, it is heartening to see Spain's gov acting like its running the very successful society that it is - and not a doormat or casino like some other MSs I could mention - yes, Ireland, I'm looking at you.

Learn from Spain.

Ends

nialloconghaile.bsky.social•48 days ago

@jjsalmo.bsky.social
@elenaadaal.bsky.social

nialloconghaile.bsky.social•48 days ago

@debbieeade.bsky.social
@madridhack.bsky.social
@crazycatladyabroad.bsky.social
@chillaxbcn.bsky.social
@markpurch.bsky.social
@almagroschool.bsky.social
@tamarainportugal.bsky.social

markpurch.bsky.social•47 days ago

We’ve tried to explain to them, the politics in Europe is quite obviously shifting rightwards with immigration and control of borders becoming more of an issue

How that fits with opening external borders to allow 3rd country nationals visa free access for longer periods is for them to explain

nialloconghaile.bsky.social•47 days ago

In fairness, this is also left issue. People need somewhere to live, and having holiday appartements empty a lot of the year can't continue.

markpurch.bsky.social•47 days ago

Yes, certainly as is foreign landlords inflating prices

Policies such as this, even if eventually watered down will be popular with many people

The timing may have something do with the Catalan Junts siding with the opposition on the budget but Pedro Sánchez knows how to play the political game

jmolofsson.bsky.social•47 days ago

It's very, very hard to see how the leftist government can be attacked for this.

It must be a vote winner (albeit only marginally, I would guess).

simonbm.bsky.social•47 days ago

Second homes are a problem. Full residence, especially in dying rural communities, is not a problem. Policy is bound to penalise the former and encourage the latter.

simonbm.bsky.social•47 days ago

Overtourism is a problem. There is no interest in more of it. Just internal tourism is vast. To preserve as much freedom as possible for ourselves, policy is bound to restrict tourism from 3rd countries more and more.

almagroschool.bsky.social•48 days ago

Yr general point is of course correct but the measures sound tougher than they are likely to be if enacted https://open.substack.com/pub/macdonnchada/p/burning-down-the-house?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=14m90

nialloconghaile.bsky.social•48 days ago

I don't disagree. The point is they recognise the problem - too much capital coming in from outside Europe - which Ireland is unwilling to do.

almagroschool.bsky.social•48 days ago

absolutely

sabine34.bsky.social•47 days ago

https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/france-greece-and-portugal-planning-to-follow-spain-with-tax-raid-on-brit-expats/

nialloconghaile.bsky.social•47 days ago

Easy to understand why. The centre of too many French cities have become dominated by holiday apartments in residential buildings.

james.barisic.fr•47 days ago

You should see some of the places around us in the winter. Like ghost towns. Bring it on!!

garethaethwy.bsky.social•47 days ago

Not just French cities, but rural Wales too.
Population of town I live in:
2001: 2040
2011: 1938
2021: 1614
Street I live on, about a quarter are holiday lets.
Huge proportion of houses that come on the market becomes holiday let.
It is not sustainable.

nialloconghaile.bsky.social•47 days ago

It's just not right

alanacct.bsky.social•47 days ago

They should restrict the amount of properties landlords can have, would increase the supply of houses for people to buy to live in and own

raymondbennett.bsky.social•46 days ago

It's been a growing problem. I know where my FiL lives in Saint-Malo they are applying a 60% surtax on secondary residences as well as quotas in the town and coastal areas.

themarchbackhome.bsky.social•47 days ago

I remember advising a German investment bank who were running a SPV through Ireland for foreign investors buying in Spain. The Russians were coming over to the UK and buying 4/5 apartments per visit. It's gone on a long time now and it's obscene.

nialloconghaile.bsky.social•47 days ago

It's a disgrace.

sabine34.bsky.social•47 days ago

I'm in Japan at the moment and japanese people are worried about chinese people who buy a lot of properties, appartments and houses in Tokyo, so now it's even more difficult for young japanese to rent or buy houses in Tokyo.

sabine34.bsky.social•47 days ago

It is a financial investment for the Chinese who then speculate on real estate or use these houses 3 months a year and rent them to other Chinese who come on vacation or for short stays.

sabine34.bsky.social•47 days ago

Yes. In my region, near the Mediterranean sea, it's impossible for locals to find apartments or houses to rent or to buy.

hilakata.bsky.social•47 days ago

Slightly different here in the diagonal de vide. It is impossible to find affordable housing to rent which is up to the new EU regs regarding energy efficiency. Lots of empty housing stock, but in desperate need of renovation.

o-loughl.in•47 days ago

I could say I am shocked by how the headline frames it, but I’m not. Obviously this ONLY targets brits and no one else… /s

ali-jr.bsky.social•47 days ago

Perfectly logical policy, totally misleading headline “raid on Brit expats” 🤯

menorcamartin.bsky.social•47 days ago

Exactly, expats or immigrants, as I call myself, are resident already so not affected by a possible future tax UP TO 100%, facts matter.

richinglasgow.bsky.social•47 days ago

Was speaking with an Irish colleague who moved away a few years back and now lives in Scotland. He solemnly noted, despite the large surplus, it’s a false economy for many. Looks good on paper but it’s impossible for people to carve out a living. What’s the point?

nialloconghaile.bsky.social•46 days ago

There's plenty of people doing well and the government was (probably) returned by the electorate in the light of that.

I think the housing policy is crackers and, as you say, stops people enjoying their lives.

Most of all, I worry that this is harming Ireland as a meritocracy (if not already)

richinglasgow.bsky.social•46 days ago

The housing policy is going to be written about for years to come.

kresten2.bsky.social•46 days ago

What is the main issues with the housing policy?

nialloconghaile.bsky.social•46 days ago

Poor planning, not enough housing stock and new builds, housing often in wrong areas, not joined up infrastructure, not enough social housing, land banking, too much non-European capital sucking up available housing, rent-mortgage ratio askew

kresten2.bsky.social•46 days ago

So a lot of different issues underpinning this.

Thanks for sharing 👍

richinglasgow.bsky.social•46 days ago

Lack of social housing being built despite large surplus of govt money. International investment firms are being given carte blanche to buy large tranches of new properties, in effect locking out individual buyers. Rental costs are rising due to overwhelming demand. Give Rory Hearne a follow.

kresten2.bsky.social•46 days ago

Thanks for the explanation 👍.

How is this possible? Sounds like something important enough that one might lose an election as a result of it.

amdismal.bsky.social•47 days ago

Many Brits seem to think it's a zero sum game, so in order to win we need Europe to lose. But it's not: with lots of free trade, services and youth movement everyone wins - but many people (and politicians) seem unable to accept this.

nialloconghaile.bsky.social•47 days ago

There is unfortunately a lot of truth to that. Mainly in Westminster too

heppy111.bsky.social•48 days ago

This!

nialloconghaile.bsky.social•48 days ago

Cheers!

brainburnnow.bsky.social•47 days ago

Can't be something they never were, I suspect.

Your suggestion is kind of like telling a straight guy "Why can't you like men instead?". No? 😜

nialloconghaile.bsky.social•47 days ago

There's a lot of truth.

However, some is just ignorance and exceptionalism

https://bsky.app/profile/nialloconghaile.bsky.social/post/3lfmf2aeqes2l

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply