Izquierda Unida Canaria (IUC) has expressed its outrage at the recent expenses of the Cabildo of Lanzarote which, in just 15 days, has allocated more than one million euros to tourism promotion projects. The broadcast of the New Year's Eve chimes from the island for 850,000 euros and the 165,000 euros dedicated to filming an episode of a Netflix series have generated strong controversy, highlighting the gap between the political priorities of the island government and the real needs of Lanzarote's citizens.
"These expenses reflect a total disconnection from the reality of the island. While working families struggle to find decent and accessible housing, and public services are saturated, the Cabildo wastes resources on superfluous actions that do not solve the structural problems of Lanzarote," says Jorge Peñas, IUC spokesperson on the island.
Lanzarote is experiencing one of the biggest housing crises in its history, with skyrocketing rental prices and an alarming shortage of affordable housing. In addition, the island is experiencing tourism saturation that exerts unsustainable pressure on its natural resources and public services, with an airport that has been close to reaching its maximum number of passengers in the year 2024 that has just closed. Given this situation, the use of public funds for tourism promotion projects is incomprehensible and deeply irresponsible.
"Instead of allocating that one million euros to alleviate the housing emergency or strengthen public services, the Cabildo prefers to feed its spectacle policy. Lanzarote does not need more tourists, it needs real solutions for its people," adds Peñas.
The formation criticizes that this management model does not respond to the demands of the citizens, but to the interests of a political elite disconnected from the needs of the population. The priority should be investment in projects that improve the quality of life of Lanzarote residents, such as the creation of public housing, support for rent or the strengthening of basic infrastructure.
For the formation, these actions not only represent an excessive expense, but also a commitment to an unsustainable tourism model that continues to strain the island. "Lanzarote has reached its limit in carrying capacity. More tourism promotion will only aggravate current problems, from the pressure on natural resources to the lack of accessibility for the local population itself," emphasizes the spokesperson.
In addition, the lack of transparency in the awarding of these contracts further aggravates the situation. In both cases, the expenses were made through negotiated procedures without publicity, a practice that prevents adequate public control and raises suspicions about the use of public funds.
Izquierda Unida Canaria insists that the Cabildo rethink its priorities and allocate public resources to projects that really benefit the citizens of the island, such as a fund to help with rent and rehabilitation of empty homes focused on rent and compliance with the SDGs in terms of climate action or investment in strengthening the educational and public transport network to meet the demands that grow at the same rate as tourism,
"Our island needs a change of course. We cannot continue to prioritize spectacle and self-promotion while our neighbors face an unprecedented crisis. It is time to put people at the center of public policies," concludes Jorge Peñas.
Izquierda Unida Canaria reiterates its commitment to continue denouncing these practices and working for an island management model that responds to the true needs of the citizens and not to the interests of a few.