A delegation from Municipalistas Primero Canarias, led by Teodoro Sosa and Óscar Hernández, met this Wednesday in Arrecife with representatives of various political parties on the island of Lanzarote to present their proposal for a Canary Islands Unity Table for the upcoming general elections. This is the second round of contacts for this initiative, following the one held a few weeks ago on the island of Fuerteventura.
The meetings, to which all nationalist and municipalist forces on the island of Lanzarote were invited, featured the Tinajo Renewal Movement, Compromiso por Haría, Unidos por Yaiza, the Marea Viva movement, Coalición Canaria, and independent leaders formerly linked to Nueva Canarias and Somos Lanzarote. In addition to gathering proposals and contributions, the encounters served to understand the different organizations' approaches to their potential participation in this new project of political unity for the Canary Islands in Madrid. All showed their favorable predisposition to the formation of the Unity Table and were scheduled for a next joint meeting where all nationalist sensibilities from Lanzarote that wish to do so can sit at the same table
Óscar Noda, of Unidos por Yaiza, stated the need to generate a project of unity that prioritizes the defense of Lanzarote and the Canary Islands above the logical differences that may exist at the municipal level between different political parties. "It's about putting on the table what unites us, which is much more than what can separate us," he pointed out.
Antonio Morales, from the Tinajo Renewal Movement, also expressed his support for the initiative and his confidence in the unity of nationalism for the defense of the Canary Islands in Madrid. “Respecting autonomy at the municipal level and without ever losing connection and closeness with neighbors, a supramunicipal project must be built that allows us to overcome past personal differences and face a new stage with a broad vision,” he said. In his opinion, “the ego of some political leaders cannot be above the general interest of the Canary Islands.”
Chaxiraxi Niz, of Compromiso por Haría, also expressed her organization's interest in being part of "an exciting project of Canarian unity that is born with a vocation to solve people's real problems from the closeness of municipalism." On behalf of Primero Canarias, in addition to Óscar Hernández and Teodoro Sosa, their vice president, Valeria Guerra, their Organization Secretary, Samuel Henríquez, and the mayor of Telde, Juan Antonio Peña, participated in the meetings.
Municipalistas Primero Canarias is the political force driven by mayors, leaders, and reformist militants of progressive nationalism on the island of Gran Canaria. Last November, it already brought together representatives from Asamblea Majorera, Asambleas Municipales de Fuerteventura, Alternativa Local por Antigua, Unidos por Betancuria, Juntos por Pájara, and independents from La Oliva on the island of Fuerteventura. It is planned that in the coming weeks, contacts will continue for the Canary Unity Table on the islands of El Hierro and La Gomera, to subsequently continue advancing in La Palma and Tenerife
Manifesto for Unity of Action
As a starting point for discussions, the municipalists propose a manifesto for the unity of action of grassroots Canarian political forces in Madrid. The text aims to articulate a unified, plural, and cross-cutting candidacy capable of bringing together organizations from different islands and with different political sensitivities in order to defend the interests of the Canary Islands in the General Courts. This involves cooperating to claim, with our own voice, full recognition of the archipelago's historical rights, consolidating the islands' differential status, and achieving the political, social, and economic advances that the Canarian people expect and deserve.
Among the demands put forward are the full development of the Statute of Autonomy, with the transfer of self-government powers recognized therein, including areas as sensitive and strategic for the Canary Islands as the management of coasts, ports, and airports. Also, the inclusion of the Canary Islands' differential status in a possible reform of the Spanish Constitution, so that the special social and economic conditions of the Canary Islands due to their remoteness and insularity are permanently recognized in the Magna Carta, as the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union does.
VAT and regional financing
The manifesto proposes the defense of the Economic and Fiscal Regime (REF) as an inalienable instrument of the Canary Islands' historical charter, indispensable for the economic and social development of the islands. It also demands a fair regional financing system for the Canary Islands, with absolute separation of REF resources, which guarantees the maintenance of basic services for citizens – healthcare, education, social services, and care for the dependent – in order to achieve equal conditions with respect to the Peninsula and Europe.
Another of the Mesa de Unidad's central proposals is the consolidation of bonuses for the transport of people and goods, ensuring the continuity of the 75% bonus for air and sea transport for residents in the Canary Islands, controlling abusive behavior by airlines, extending the 100% bonus for public land transport over time, and updating the costs of goods transport so that the Canary Islands are not forced to pay the highest grocery prices in all of Spain. It also proposes fighting for the renewal of state agreements, programs, and investments in infrastructure – roads, hydraulic works, coastlines, housing, tourist infrastructure, and educational infrastructure, among others – which recognize the uniqueness and compensate for the historical disadvantage of the Canary Islands as an island and outermost region.
The document for the defense of the Canary Islands includes the update of policies and specific plans to promote employment and combat poverty, at least until the archipelago reaches the average of the entire State. It also contemplates the maintenance and defense by the State of 100% of POSEI, the European program of compensatory measures for the additional costs that agricultural and livestock productions in the Canary Islands must face due to remoteness and insularity
Migratory Phenomenon and Foreign Policy
Regarding the management of the migratory phenomenon, the manifesto calls for the General State Administration to control air and maritime borders, guarantee the proper functioning of the reception system, and commit to humanitarian aid for people arriving on our shores, offering them dignified treatment, facilitating their integration, and promoting intercultural coexistence programs. It also calls for the real, effective, and immediate activation of the so-called solidarity quota, the automatic redistribution mechanism that would guarantee the transfer of migrants in reception situations to the mainland territoryFinally, the text demands the presence of the Canary Islands' institutions in foreign policy matters affecting the archipelago, especially in negotiations with Morocco regarding the delimitation of maritime spaces, the exploitation of natural resources, and the control of migratory movements. The manifesto concludes that the Canary Islands must be a priority on Madrid's political agenda and be treated with respect and consideration. The document argues that remoteness and insularity must be duly compensated, and the citizens of the Canary Islands should receive the same treatment and have the same opportunities as all other citizens
