The Socialist Group of the Cabildo de Lanzarote denounces that the initial approval of the modification of the Organic Regulations of the Cabildo is "a tailor-made suit" for the president Oswaldo Betancort to prevent the attendance of the deputy and councilor María Dolores Corujo and weaken the democratic control of the opposition. The socialist spokesperson, Ariagona González, stated that "we are not talking about technical adjustments, but about a political maneuver that violates the right of representation of thousands of Lanzarote residents."
González explained that the Government has twisted article 72 and introduced a 72 ter to move the calendar at its convenience: plenary sessions between Tuesday and Friday and the possibility of bringing forward or delaying sessions with respect to the corresponding month. "This change is not aimed at better organization; it seeks to place the plenary sessions so that Loli Corujo cannot attend. It is a democratic red line," he stressed.
The spokesperson described the new remote assistance system as "discriminatory," as it only facilitates connection when on official travel, a condition that, by definition, favors the Government and excludes the opposition, which combines its work with other obligations. "They grant privileges to their own and deny equal conditions to those of us who oversee," González said.
A blow to transparency
The PSOE warns of a blow to transparency: the Executive eliminates the Finance Committee, where the budgets of each area were reported, and shortens the processing deadlines, reducing the time to study the accounts and present amendments. "They want the budgets to pass without light or stenographers," González denounced, recalling that the third round of intervention is also eliminated and the response to requests is postponed until the following plenary session, "silencing the opposition and impoverishing the debate."
"The two-tiered regulation promoted by Betancort will allow his advisors to attend from an airport while traveling officially and, at the same time, de facto expels legitimate representatives of the opposition from the plenary debate. Less control. Less transparency. Less democracy," he added.
González recalled that the Socialist Group extended a hand with two reasonable proposals that were rejected: establishing an objective criterion for relocating plenary sessions (if it cannot be held on the last Friday of the month, it should be the following) and approving institutional declarations by a qualified majority of two-thirds to guarantee consensus on matters of general interest such as equality, LGTBI rights, or climate action. "They steamrolled us: they erased the reinforced majority and maintained discretion over the calendar," he lamented.
"The message is clear: they don't want to debate with the opposition, they don't want controls or deadlines to study the accounts, and they do want a regulation made to measure," concluded the spokesperson, who stated that the PSOE will not consent to any violation of fundamental rights and will act in defense of the representation of its electorate. "This text will be called the Organic Regulation of Oswaldo Betancort. And in the face of that, they will find us firm."