I'm portuguese and I lack the words to properly express how that is so incredibly stupid, even to my countrymen.

There are more houses available in this country than there are people but the base line thought is if not in a major city, there is nothing.

Living in a small, semi rural area, there are more houses available than people here bit because this is inland, nobody wants to come here. Parents spend their childrens childhood indoctrinating them to leave as if fleeing the plague

Where there are no people, there are no businesses thus, no jobs, thus a dwindling population. This is a self enforcing cycle.