The spokesperson for the Popular Party in the Cabildo of Lanzarote, and member of the Governing Group, Ángel Vázquez, assessed this Tuesday in the Debate on the State of the Island, claiming the "advanced degree of compliance" with the government agreement and the "turn towards institutional stability" that, he assures, the island Corporation has experienced since the current governing group took office.
"Lanzarote and La Graciosa are islands that are moving forward again, that are recovering their investment levels, that execute, that plan, and that are not living in the paralysis that characterized the previous socialist term, sheltered by a lack of work, apathy, and disinterest," Vázquez stated in his speech, who also expressed his gratitude to the 15 councilors who make up the insular Governing Group.
The spokesperson explained that the "impeccable management of the areas led by the Popular Party has consolidated a serious, responsible, and measurable management model," citing as examples the progress in Public Works, Physical Activity and Sports, Planning and Project Coordination, Treasury and Contracting, Security and Emergencies, and the Centers for Art, Culture, and Tourism.
The spokesperson emphasized that, "faced with the systematic criticism from the opposition, what citizens are seeing today is a Council that manages, that doesn't live off headlines but off real projects that are already transforming people's lives." In this regard, he recalled that the investment chapter has reached "historic execution figures," allowing essential works for mobility, road safety, and the modernization of island infrastructures to be promoted
Ángel Vázquez reiterated that the Cabildo's economic policy "has demonstrated rigor and efficiency," highlighting achievements such as the reduction of debt, the approval of the best budgets in the institution's history, and their execution at "record levels." Likewise, the spokesperson emphasized the boost to the Lanzarote Tax Network, an autonomous body that manages the taxes of the Security and Emergencies Consortium and the Island Water Council, as well as five of the island's seven town councils, in addition to the Cabildo of Lanzarote itself. "Thanks to the incessant work of the area's staff, as well as the vice president herself, the procedure to expand the Tax Network's labor force by more than 30 positions is currently being fulfilled," he pointed out
"They said we weren't capable, that there was no project. Today, the data refutes those who try to spread a message of discouragement," added the spokesperson, emphasizing and recalling that the island Corporation executed almost 100% of the previous fiscal year's Chapter VI, while also approving the two largest budgets in the Corporation's history and planning to approve next year's budget in the coming weeks."Without a doubt, the management under Vice President María Jesús Tovar has shown that another way of doing economic policy is possible. A way that benefits all the citizens of Lanzarote and La Graciosa," he asserted.
Lanzarote, an "exemplary" island in sports
Regarding the sports sector, the spokesperson defended that the Island Sports Service, led by councilor Juan Monzón, "has restored dignity to our clubs and athletes through planning, dialogue, and stable subsidy calls".
This new working method "has made it possible to end the uncertainty that sports entities on the island previously suffered." Likewise, Vázquez highlighted the boost to infrastructure improvements such as the Sports City, the island's network of courts, and support for grassroots sports.
The Island Census of Sports Facilities has been carried out, an essential step for future planning and maintenance, as well as the actions taken at the Lanzarote Sports City. “We are not just talking about the total renovation of the athletics track surface or the change of turf on the football field, which are already milestones for this Corporation, but rather we are immersed in a comprehensive transformation of the facilities worth close to 2 million euros,” he assured.
Furthermore, he stated that this sports infrastructure improvement plan **extends to the sea**, as active work is underway to improve the Insular Center for Nautical Sports (CIDN), demonstrating that the island can host top-tier events, as was evident with the recent Canary Islands Championship for 5-meter Latin Sail Boats."Lanzarote has positioned itself as a benchmark island for sports, being the only non-capital island present in both editions of ExpoDeca, and promoting national and international championships, such as the European Badminton Championship that this island will host at the end of this month or the Taekwondo World Championship that we will have in 2027," he added.
Security and Emergencies, a Key Area for Lanzarote and La Graciosa
The Popular Party spokesperson also highlighted the management carried out in the Security and Emergencies Consortium, led by counselor Francisco J. Aparicio, where key investments for the island have been approved.
At the human resources level, it should be highlighted that the Lanzarote Security and Emergency Consortium has carried out the largest public employment offer for 23 firefighter positions, to which a new offer for 2026 will be added with a minimum of 10 more positions. "The final objective regarding the number of personnel that the counselor has set is for the Security and Emergency Consortium to have a staff of 70 firefighters," stated Vázquez.
On the other hand, the Consortium has promoted the improvement of facilities with projects for **two new fire stations:** in Tías, which is close to being awarded, and the headquarters in Haría, for which the file has already been initiated. In addition to this, work is underway to find land that will allow for the creation of a new fire station in Playa Blanca, thus consolidating an emergency belt from the south to the north of the island.Regarding the island of La Graciosa, as specified by the spokesperson, progress has been made in equipping it with personnel and material resources worth more than half a million euros, including the addition of two firefighters on duty every day of the year; a 4x4 vehicle; a fire truck with equipment suited to the needs of the eighth island; as well as a jet ski and a zodiac for water rescues
Tourist Centers for All Lanzaroteños
The management of the Centers of Art, Culture and Tourism "has consolidated a model that balances economic benefit with the protection and enhancement of César Manrique's legacy, transforming the entity into a more efficient and transparent model".
In the economic and financial sphere, as explained by the spokesperson and also CEO of CACT, revenues in 2024 "approached 50 million euros, representing an increase in turnover of 31.9%, with an operating result that rose to 15 million euros".
"These positive figures were achieved with a 21% reduction in visitors, where a historic profit of 5.6 million euros was also obtained, demonstrating remarkable management efficiency," he assertedIn this regard, Vázquez stressed that "a fiscal milestone" for the Tourist Centers has been the 99% corporate tax exemption on tickets. "Furthermore, we established a new fee with the Cabildo and guaranteed the payment of 4.5 million euros to the municipalities of Tinajo, Tías, and Yaiza, which represents a 66.65% increase compared to 2023," he added.On the other hand, "it was demonstrated that confidence in the future of the Entity is reflected in the approval of the 2026 Budget, which amounts to 50.9 million euros, the highest in its history." "We must also highlight Corporate Social Responsibility, a department that has allocated more than 4 million euros in 2024 to sponsorships and social, cultural, sports, environmental, and educational projects in Lanzarote and La Graciosa," he stated.In addition, Vázquez highlighted that the circular project 'CACT, waste and reintegration' was also launched, which offers a second chance to vulnerable people. "We must also highlight the recovery of the traditional uniforms of each César Manrique center, and the acquisition of the new offices for a value close to 1.4 million euros," he pointed out
Transforming the islands through public works
Ángel Vázquez also wanted to highlight the good use of the Canary Islands Development Fund and the NEXT Generation Funds, managed by the Planning and Project Coordination area headed by Vice President María Jesús Tovar.“We are promoting the three lines of action of the FDCAN, allocating nearly 67 million euros to infrastructure and more than 5 million to public employment, thus giving opportunities to 180 people through the employment plans of the Cabildo de Lanzarote,” clarified the spokesperson, who also emphasized the works being carried out through the financing of the Next Generation Funds, such as the renovation of Plaza Las Palmas in Arrecife; the construction of the Preferred Stop in Costa Teguise; or the transformation of César Manrique Park in Tinajo.In this regard, Ángel Vázquez paused to explain the unlocking of two projects historically demanded by the citizens of Lanzarote and La Graciosa: the **residence of Cruz Blanca in Altavista and the high-dependency residence in Tahíche**.“After years of neglect by the previous government, the commitment and effort of the Treasury and Contracting department made it possible to allocate 10 million euros for the Diocese to build the Cruz Blanca residence,” stated the spokesperson, who pointed out that “demands can be met as long as there is political will, such as that shown by Vice President María Jesús Tovar.”On the other hand, he congratulated himself that the machines are already working on the future high-dependency residence in Tahíche, "after the previous government was only able to photograph the laying of the first stone." "Far from opportunism, this governing group got to work and set itself the goal of building these socio-sanitary places, which are so important for Lanzarote and La Graciosa," added Vázquez.
In terms of Public Works, an area headed by councilor Jacobo Medina, the Lanzarote Cabildo "is promoting a significant investment in the improvement and modernization of the island's road network and educational infrastructure." Proof of this is the reinforcement of the pavement on the LZ-704 road, which connects Yaiza and El Golfo, for almost 900,000 euros, as well as the landscape improvement of the LZ-1, the road connecting Arrecife with the north of the island, which is already in the drafting phase, in addition to the tender for the reinforcement of the pavement of the latter for 500,000 euros.
"In a definitive step, the awarding of the transformation of the Famara road has been achieved, for more than 420,000 euros; and we are working on the future LZ-45 road, the Teguise bypass, a key project to improve fluidity and safety in the center of the island. In this same vein, the project for the rehabilitation of José Betancort street, the entrance road to the Villa de Teguise, is already in place," added the popular spokesperson.In short, the councilor and spokesperson for the People's Party assured that "the comprehensive management of the six areas led by the People's Party, added to the joint work of the Government Group composed of Coalición Canaria and the councilor from the Mixed Group, Armando Santana, has allowed the island Corporation to reverse the inertia of abandonment and consolidate the roadmap for the Lanzarote of the future." "Today we can proudly say that the Cabildo de Lanzarote has recovered the seriousness, management, and work that had been lost by the previous government," he concluded.
