The president, Pedro Sánchez, presided over the ceremony to award the Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit, posthumously, to the Secretary of State for Housing and Urban Development, David Lucas Parrón; the award was received by his family at Moncloa Palace.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, presents the decoration to the family of the Secretary of State for Housing and Urban Agenda David Lucas, in an event also attended by the Minister for Housing and Urban Agenda, Isabel Rodríguez (Pool Moncloa / Sandra Armada)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, presents the decoration to the family of the Secretary of State for Housing and Urban Agenda David Lucas, in an event also attended by the Minister for Housing and Urban Agenda, Isabel Rodríguez (Pool Moncloa / Sandra Armada)

Pedro Sánchez highlighted that this is a recognition of his professional career, dedicated to others, and his way of understanding public service, as well as "a lifetime of commitment, daily and constant work".

The posthumous award of the Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit recognises David Lucas's extraordinary contribution to the defence of the constitutional right to decent housing for citizens and his contribution to the improvement of public services.

Born in Madrid in 1968, David Lucas held a Doctorate in Law from the Carlos III University of Madrid, specialising in Public State Law; a Bachelor's degree in Law from the Complutense University of Madrid; a Master's degree in Territorial and Urban Planning from the Carlos III University of Madrid, specialising in Urban Management; and a Master's degree in Public Law from Carlos III University of Madrid (top academic record and special award).

Lucas served as Secretary of State for Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda; Secretary-General for Urban Agenda and Housing; he was elected senator-elect for Madrid in the 12th parliamentary term; Mayor of Móstoles; spokesperson for the PSOE at Madrid City Council; Deputy Mayor of Getafe; President of the Spanish Delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and President of the International Relations Committee of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP); and responsible for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Spanish municipalities.

He was also a member of the Steering Committee of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, the Steering Committee and the Executive Bureau of United Cities and Local Governments, and the OECD Global Parliamentary Network. In the field of local government, he served as president of the Association of Southern Towns, Vice-president of the Federation of Municipalities of Madrid, and chairman of the Federation's Finance Committee.

In the field of teaching, he served as a lecturer in Financial and Tax Law and the History of Law at Carlos III University in Madrid; a lecturer in Financial Law and Constitutional Law at Nebrija University; and a lecturer in Political Science and Public Management and Administration at Complutense University.

Following a spell as Secretary-General for Urban Development and Housing, since 2023, he held the position of Secretary of State of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda. David Lucas passed away on 20 July.