Noemí Santana warns of social deterioration in the Canary Islands and calls for a broad left-wing front

The spokesperson for Podemos Canarias, Noemí Santana, warned this Saturday of an accelerated deterioration of living conditions in the archipelago and proposed a broad front to recover the path of progress initiated in the previous term.

At a time marked by social discontent and political disaffection, Santana denounces the regional Executive's lack of response to the main problems of the Canary Islands' citizens.

“Young people are forced to emigrate because they have no life project in their homeland. We face one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the State, miserable wages, and a completely inaccessible housing market,” she stated shortly before the meeting of the Podemos Autonomous Citizen Council held this Saturday.

Faced with this reality, Podemos proposes to resume public policies focused on social justice and the right to a dignified life.

The meeting of the highest autonomous governing body of Podemos takes place after the New Year's speech by the President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, which, according to Santana, demonstrates the “total detachment of the right from the reality of the people”.

Likewise, she has harshly criticized the neoliberal policies of CC and PP, accusing them of deepening social exclusion, as “Dependent people today suffer longer waits, more institutional neglect, and a deceptive reform of the Dependency Law that leaves them behind again”.

She also assured that the Government has turned waiting lists into “a shell game to disguise management”.

Furthermore, the spokesperson emphasizes the urgency of recomposing the unity of progressive forces in the archipelago.

“We have learned from our mistakes. The atomization of the left was what prevented us from revalidating the Government of Flowers. Today, more than ever, a strong, unified alternative with a clear program that connects with the citizens and restores hope is needed,” according to Santana.

In this regard, Podemos has already initiated conversations with other political forces to the left of the PSOE, as well as with its partners in municipal governments such as that of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where they have presented a ten-point plan of urgent measures regarding housing.

Santana also warned about the pacts of Coalición Canaria with the far-right, as "they already govern with Vox in three municipalities, and they vote together every day in Parliament. Clavijo does not hesitate to embrace the far-right if it gives him power”.

Regarding the international situation, she valued the recent release of prisoners in Venezuela as positive and called for absolute respect for international law.

“The path is dialogue, not Trump's imperialist policy. Today it was Venezuela, tomorrow it could be the Canary Islands,” she warned.

“We will continue pushing in all spaces to guarantee rights and rebuild hope from the left. We have too much at stake to give up now,” according to Santana.