A spokesperson for the ruling Socialists (PSOE) has landed her party in hot water after it was revealed that her partner is a major landlord with 30 properties.
This comes amid a snap election scheduled for November 29th in which the PSOE campaign has made housing the major theme.
Montse Mínguez García, the Socialists’ spokesperson at its Ferraz headquarters, has sparked controversy after it emerged that her partner, Sergi Vélez Viola, a businessman from the Catalan city of Lleida, runs a holding company with several million euros worth of property.
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Spanish media reports suggest that his property investments total €6.2 million, including a portfolio of 30 flats for rent, making him a major landlord.
The Artículo 14 outlet also reports that he has even evicted tenants.
Apart from other companies, Mínguez’s partner also manages Nest Capital Homes, a company with assets totalling €8.4 million, whose corporate purpose is "the purchase, sale, operation and non-financial leasing of all types of property; the complete construction, refurbishment, renovation, restoration and maintenance of all types of buildings; brokerage in the transfer of all types of property; and mediation in the management and administration of real estate."
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Mínguez is far from the first Spanish politician to be grilled over property holdings. Analysis of MPs' asset declarations carried out by Público showed that 85 percent own at least one property, and 20 percent own three or more.
Among PP and Vox MPs, 25 percent and 24 percent respectively own three or more properties.
The revelations are particularly uncomfortable for Mínguez and the Socialists as they head into the election campaign, however.
After the voting down of two major housing bills, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called snap elections in the hope of stealing momentum from right-wing parties and turning the vote into a referendum on housing.
READ ALSO: Spain's government dealt huge blow as MPs reject housing crisis laws
Mínguez has had some uncomfortable media appearances in the meantime, insisting that she has "nothing to hide" following the news.
"I have nothing to hide. My actions speak for themselves in Parliament, where I vote every week in favour of the rights of my country’s citizens. Also, and above all, on housing issues," she said in comments to RTVE news.
In another interview, she stated: "It is a family business dedicated to letting and it complies with the law, with the legislation currently in force in Catalonia," acknowledging her husband’s property business.
At the end of the conversation, Mínguez, "visibly nervous", according to Spanish media, added "if there is a tenant who does not pay, they are evicted."
The PSOE's political opponents were quick to criticise the contradiction.
For the PP, it is "nonsense" and "absurd" that the Socialists are focusing their campaign on this issue, despite the fact that their spokesperson "is capitalising on Spaniards’ housing needs".
Sánchez, for his part, defended his spokesperson, saying he was "unaware of the partner’s professional activities" but nothing to put in doubt Mínguez continued role.
Mínguez is also a leading figure in the PSOE inner-circle and general secretary of the parliamentary group in the Congress of Deputies.
On Wednesday night, amidst the controversy, the PSC in Lleida nominated her as their candidate in the general election, meaning that she will likely be unable to avoid the spotlight.
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