The referendum proposal received favourable votes from deputies from PS, BE, Verdes, PAN, Livre; the votes against by PSD, Chega, IL, CDS, Aliança and PPM and the abstention of PCP and MPT.
The proposal, which includes two questions, now goes to the judges at Palácio Ratton to assess the constitutionality of the consultation with Lisbon residents, which came from a citizens' initiative. On 8 November, the Housing Referendum Movement delivered 6,500 signatures to promote the referendum, which, if given the green light by the Constitutional Court (TC), will be the first to take place in the country on the initiative of a citizens' movement.
The TC now has 25 days to consider the two questions and, without obstacles on the constitutional front, it is up to the city hall led by Carlos Moedas to have five days to set the date for the referendum, which should take place 40 to 60 days later, that is, in the spring.
The first question is whether Lisbon residents agree to change the AL municipal regulations so that the Chamber, within 180 days, orders the “cancellation of local accommodation registered in properties intended for housing”. The second question is whether you agree to change the AL regulations “so that local accommodation is no longer allowed in properties intended for housing”.
The Movement argues that properties licensed for housing should not be for tourist purposes. The answer “yes” to the first question puts the AL that exists in the city at risk, as long as the referendum has a participation of more than 50% of registered voters.