Archived Articles

Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.

He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.

In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.

Global Real Estate Project
News Index

Directories
  Int'l Realty
  US Realty

• France 2001
  
• France 2002
  
• France 2002, 2
  
• France 2003
  
• France 2004
  
• France 2004, 2
  
• France 2005
  
• France 2005, 2
  
• France 2005, 3
  
• France 2006
  
• France 2006, 2
  
• France 2006, 3
  
• France 2007
  
• France 2007, 2
  
• France 2007, 3
  
• France 2007, 4
  
• France 2008
  
• France 2008, 2
  

In the final stretch of pre-electoral campaign in France two main political forces, the Right and the Left, show equal forces. Here it isn't the place to show all worldview differences that still exist between these political blocs. It suffices saying that French republican constitution makes all presidential elections crucial in some sense; stakes are very high, much higher than during presidential campaign in the United States. President in France is not only at the center of executive power; he can also dissolve parliament in case of major tensions between these two branches of government. President is not policy broker that needs balancing between different interests within the parliament; he's real leader that can impose his worldviews on parliament and society.

Real estate issue is among many in France that is still open for political debate. Despite all progress in capitalism France still has no single answer on the question whether personal residence is commodity or social right. In no other western society this question is so acute. The Right looks at residences as commodities satisfying our private needs, like any other goods or services we buy on the open market. Social housing is possible as policy for certain low-income groups of population, but not outside this limited group. The Left has very different opinion; residence is part of decent life without which we cannot exercise our other political and civil rights. Therefore providing social housing isn't expression of social generosity toward those in need; it responds to their basic rights as citizens. 'Free housing' has always been part of radical Left programs in France since mid-19th c. or maybe even earlier.

The way housing problem has been solved in France so far shows a mixture but not a good compromise between rightwing and leftwing platforms. After the World War II France was a country that built enormous quantity of social housing, some experts consider that every sixth residence in the country falls within this category. Since 1970s however the share of social housing falls constantly which isn't combined with falling down population in need of social housing. A certain paradox takes place. In a country that becomes richer and richer every year, and taxation on rich people gets heavier, the line of people waiting for social housing gets longer every year too. A law of 2000 on 'housing solidarity' setting up quotas for social housing at 20% of all residences only slightly improved the situation. Without major financial incentives municipalities preferred paying symbolic penalties instead of allowing for new social housing projects.

Proposed solutions are two. First, making market forces determine entirely supply-demand ratio on real estate market and allowing for much better financial terms for first-time buyers; this solution will require at least providing additional financial guarantees to credit providers. Second, eliminating completely market forces from certain areas of real estate market and concentrating public financing directly on social housing projects and setting up annual quotas. Either solution will have profound effect on entire real estate market, not only on the cheapest housing projects.

--------------------

See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of France.