Leire Iglesias has been appointed as Spain's new Secretary of State for Housing and Urban Agenda by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday.
She succeeds David Lucas, who passed away on July 20, taking over the senior government post responsible for national housing policy and urban development.
Until her appointment, Iglesias served as the president of Casa 47, Spain's public state housing and land entity. She had led the organisation since its creation, overseeing its initial setup and operational rollout.
Following Iglesias' promotion, the Council of Ministers also approved the appointment of Maribel Ramos Vergeles as the new president of Casa 47 on Tuesday. Ramos previously served as the director of the Affordable Housing Stock at Casa 47 since the agency was established, having previously worked as deputy general director at the non-profit organisation Hogar Sí.
Regional housing policy in Extremadura
Before leading Casa 47, Iglesias served in regional government as the councillor for mobility, transport and housing in the Junta de Extremadura. During her tenure in the western Spanish region, she directed several major housing initiatives.
Under her leadership in Extremadura, the regional administration enacted the 2022-2027 Housing Plan and amended the Law on the Promotion and Access to Housing in Extremadura. Her administration also established an acquisition guarantee fund, created a formal mechanism for emergency accommodation and rehousing, and introduced a tax on empty homes designed to ensure properties fulfill their social function.
Parliamentary role and legislative record
Iglesias also brings extensive parliamentary experience to the national housing portfolio. She previously served as the housing spokesperson for the Socialist Parliamentary Group in the Congress of Deputies during Spain's 10th Legislature.
In Congress, she acted as a rapporteur for several landmark housing bills. Her work included legislative projects focused on urban rehabilitation, regeneration and renewal, as well as statutory measures aimed at streamlining and expanding the residential rental market.
Iglesias was also a rapporteur for urgent legislation designed to strengthen legal protections for mortgage debtors. Additionally, she managed parliamentary work on a bill proposing the regulation of dation in payment, the suspension of evictions, and the expansion of social rent options.
Structure of Spain's housing ministry
In the Spanish government structure, a Secretary of State serves as the second highest official within a ministry, directly below the cabinet minister. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda oversees national property market regulation, public housing development, and urban renewal frameworks across Spain.
Casa 47 functions as the state-owned public company tasked with managing land and expanding affordable housing stock across the country. In Spanish mortgage law, dation in payment allows borrowers to fully discharge their mortgage debt by surrendering the property to the lender.
With the Council of Ministers approving both executive appointments on Tuesday, Iglesias takes immediate charge of the national housing secretariat as Ramos assumes leadership of Casa 47.
