The Lisbon City Council, under the leadership of Carlos Moedas, is advancing plans for a private university residence on 5 de Outubro Avenue, just meters away from where a public student housing project was once proposed but never realized. This move has sparked criticism from opposition parties, particularly the PCP, highlighting the contrast between the abandonment of public initiatives and the support for private ventures.
The Backstory
The former Ministry of Education building on 5 de Outubro Avenue was vacated in March 2018. Initially, it was part of the National Plan for Higher Education Accommodation (PNAES), aiming to add 600 beds for displaced students. However, under Moedas' administration, the plan was scaled back by 150 beds and eventually shelved, citing funding timeline issues with the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).
The Controversy
In a twist, Fernando Alexandre, the Minister of Education, revealed in September 2024 that he was advised by Moedas himself to drop the public residence project. This revelation was brought up by the PCP during a council meeting in November 2024.
Now, the council's agenda for June 16 includes a proposal for a private student housing project at no. 149 on the same avenue, submitted by Joana Almeida, the councilor for Urban Planning. This has led to accusations of favoring private interests over public needs.
The Strategy
Moedas has been advocating for private partnerships to quickly address the student housing crisis, arguing for the efficiency and speed of such solutions. However, critics question the prioritization of private projects over previously planned public ones.
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