ACN
After the harsh criticisms that the popular leaders launched this weekend against the national president, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the regional deputy secretary of the Canary socialists, Francisca Luengo, has come out in his defense, declaring that the one who is truly installed in the 'all inclusive' is not the president of the Spanish Government in La Mareta, but the president of the Gran Canaria Cabildo, José Manuel Soria, on the island he presides over. "How is it possible that someone who has assigned in the Cabildo the 'all inclusive' 365 days a year, with 1.5 million of the old pesetas per day to spend on ostentation and propaganda, speaks of the 'all inclusive' of President Zapatero's vacations in a public facility?" Luengo asked. The socialist believes that "not even the president of the Spanish Government" has a daily expense of 1.5 million pesetas assigned for presidential matters, and invites Soria to "dedicate himself to working and managing his budget", since she believes that "he is putting the Island up for sale". "It seems that the PP has developed hives this summer -she says- because it cannot bear that the President of the Nation has chosen Lanzarote". For Luengo, this visit is providing "the best promotion of the Islands inside and outside of Spain", and recalls that Aznar preferred to rest on other Islands: "the Azores, but as a military platform". La Gomera Security Plan Regarding the statements made by the Secretary of Communication of the 'populars', Larry Álvarez, accusing Zapatero of failing to fulfill his promises and deceiving citizens by saying that a Security Plan for the island of La Gomera will be approved next fall, Luengo replied that he himself knows that this plan is a reality. In this sense, she assures that the socialist government "keeps its word", recalling that 40 percent of Canarians have benefited from the increase in pensions, compared to 15 percent in other communities. In addition, she said that subsidies for transport have been increased by 15 percent, "while in Aznar's time the contribution was zero". Finally, she recalls that the controversial state highway agreement "will have financing", and says that when Aznar governed that agreement existed, "but without financing".