Babilonia needs legal certainty

The Constitutional Court’s ruling on the houses in Babilonia has once again put an issue before Guardamar that affects its heritage, legal certainty and residents’ lives. The decision limits regional protection for homes located on public land and annuls the inventory of degraded land. The Generalitat has announced that it will consider new legal avenues; the PSPV, for its part, has called for the regional minister to resign. Four judges have announced dissenting opinions.

On an issue this sensitive, the first priority is to respect the institutions and comply with court rulings. A dissenting opinion expresses disagreement within the court itself, but does not change the meaning of the ruling. And the Generalitat’s consideration of alternatives must not become an invitation to prolong uncertainty without explaining what options exist, what consequences they would have and within what legal framework they could be pursued.

The houses in Babilonia are not an abstract legal matter: they are part of life in Guardamar. The authorities must therefore explain clearly what the ruling means for the homes affected and what steps are now being considered. Transparency is especially important where coastal protection, public land and the circumstances of those living in the houses intersect. Exchanging partisan accusations or announcing that new avenues will be explored is not enough: clear information and lawful decisions are needed.

Protecting the coastal environment matters, but so does ensuring that rules are clear, predictable and applied equally. Protecting nature and safeguarding legal certainty should not be presented as incompatible goals. That is precisely why any response must be based on current legislation and court rulings, not promises that could raise false expectations. The institutions should also explain how matters reached this point and what practical effects the annulment of the inventory will have.

Calling for the regional minister to resign is a political position, not a solution for residents. Public accountability matters, but the debate should focus on the facts, each authority’s responsibilities and the genuine legal alternatives. Guardamar needs the Generalitat and the Government to act rigorously and in coordination, rather than turning Babilonia’s future into another partisan standoff.

We call on the authorities involved to publish a clear explanation of the ruling, its consequences and the steps planned, and to inform those affected directly. Coastal protection must be based on firm rules; so must the response to those living in Babilonia.