The Podemos group in the Cabildo of Lanzarote has taken stock of its first year in the institution, reaffirming the message launched in the investiture Plenary Session of June 22, 2015. The party recalls that this message "is still as valid today as it was on the first day": "If they continue to govern with their backs to the citizens, we will not let them sleep." The purple formation points out that with the approval this Monday of some budgets, "with the vote against of practically all the opposition" (only the councilor of Nueva Canarias supported the proposal of the Government group), "it was confirmed that the Government group has not the slightest intention of changing course in social matters and continues to ignore the crisis situation suffered by 7,000 families on the island".
The party explains that in this first year in the Cabildo it has presented 34 motions, a third of them with social content, of which a total of 18 have been approved by the Plenary. Thus, they recall that by virtue of these motions proposed by Podemos, the Cabildo is preparing a report on poverty and homeless people on the island and some proposals from the Platform of People Affected by Mortgages were supported. "Although, as with another motion approved against energy poverty, the Cabildo has not yet taken any concrete measures on these issues," they lament.
Similarly, they point out that a series of measures were approved, through motions by Podemos, for socially responsible contracting by the Cabildo and for the improvement of the working conditions of the cleaning ladies, as well as support for the cause of the Tragsa workers affected by an ERE. In addition, the creation of a monthly transport pass and the subsidization of cultural events organized by the Cabildo for people without resources were approved, as well as a motion in favor of the march against gender violence and another to urge the State Government to introduce legal reforms to favor the possibility of suffrage for foreign residents in the islands, they enumerate.
A proposal to eliminate single-use plastics at gastronomic events and another to take measures to eliminate the plant known as "cat's tail" on the island were also approved, in addition to the proposal to investigate the use of the barilla and measures to "avoid fraud" in products made with foreign aloe vera. Also, at the request of initiatives presented by Podemos, the island declared itself against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Agreement (TTIP) and the Plenary showed its rejection of the agreement between the EU and Turkey on the humanitarian drama of refugees.
Rejection of withdrawing funds from Bankia and lowering the salaries of the councilors
Among the motions presented that were rejected by the Plenary are the proposal that the Cabildo subsidize the water of needy families charged to the Canal Gestión canon, the request that the political groups of the Cabildo make their accounts public each year, and the request that the fixed-term funds held by the institution in Bankia be withdrawn as a way to pressure the entity to offer social housing and rentals. In addition, Podemos also recalls that the Plenary rejected the proposal to reduce the salaries of the councilors by 20%, as well as the allocation to political groups.
In the judicial field, Podemos appeared in June 2015 in the criminal case against the president of the Cabildo for the seizure of the Montaña desalination plant, as well as in the separate piece opened for payments to the lawyer Ignacio Calatayud. "In April 2016, we filed a complaint with the Prosecutor's Office as a result of the invoices worth four million euros paid by the Cabildo in the last four years allegedly skipping the legal contracting procedures," they add. In addition, the party denounced to Seprona the works of the dolphinarium of Rancho Texas and presented allegations to the urban planning agreement signed between that company and the City Council of Tías.
In addition, more than 120 requests for information were submitted in writing and allegations were submitted to the new organic regulations of the Cabildo and a total amendment to the corporation's budgets for 2016, understanding that "it does not respond to the needs of the citizens of the island".
"We will not let them sleep"
In the statement in which it summarizes its actions in this year, the party reproduces its speech and emphasizes that it "continues to maintain it". "This is also our welcome message to the men and women who will make up the new government group: We will not let them sleep. Not while an emergency aid takes months to reach its recipient. Not while a woman and her children, about to be evicted, are ignored by the social services of the Cabildo. Not while an elderly couple continues to fear losing the house in which they always lived. Not while they insist on allocating hundreds of thousands of euros to underwater museums while arguing that there is no money for our elders who are waiting for a place in a residence," said Carlos Meca then.
"We also said that, despite our supervisory work, and as the work done demonstrates, 'we will not be the ones who say no to everything nor are we here to destroy instead of to build, if anyone is worried about it'", they add. "We bring a program under our arm and we aspire to convince you that it is worth developing. A program in which a Citizen Rescue Plan stands out above all, which we are going to defend tooth and nail until this Cabildo can boast that no one on this island is in need," they recall.
Similarly, they point out that a year ago they also stated that "we will not be the ones who say No to everything, but we are not going to shut up while you continue to be the ones who say Yes to everything. Those who say Yes to everything above the Law. Those who say Yes to everything above the territorial integrity of the island. Those who say Yes to everything while those who are worse off are still waiting for a job or help. Those who say Yes to everything in order to keep their sponsoring companies happy".
"These words take on a greater meaning today, with the threat posed to the islands by the preliminary draft of the Land Law that Coalición Canaria and the Socialist Party have put on the table, which undoubtedly represents the greatest challenge facing the islands to maintain social and territorial balance," concludes Podemos.