The Deputy Minister of the Presidency of the Government of the Canary Islands, Jorge Rodríguez, has assessed the latest statements by the Minister of Industry, José Manuel Soria, stating that "sooner rather than later, he will have to be held accountable for his passionate position regarding oil exploration, his lies and his contempt for the majority sentiment of the Canarian people."
In the opinion of the Deputy Minister, "in the absence of arguments, and given the failure of his pressures to manipulate public opinion, Soria resorts to his hackneyed and repeatedly discredited arsenal of lies. Rivero has never confessed to him, neither in public nor in private, that he is in favor of the surveys; nor did CC include the 'yes' to oil in its program; nor is the consultation illegal."
In this sense, Rodríguez recalls that "on page 121 of the CC electoral program for the 2011 regional elections it says verbatim:At the level of powers, on the one hand, the Autonomous Community must be attributed new powers over matters of great interest for the future of the Archipelago (oil exploration, management of ports and airports, inter-island air transport, audiovisual market, coasts, security, powers related to the external action of the Archipelago, etc.); and, on the other hand, the new Statute must establish a new methodology in the distribution of powers that corrects the problems that have traditionally arisen between the State and the Autonomous Community in the interpretation of the scope of their powers."
"In other words, it is not even close to betting on the exploitation of oil in the Islands, but rather it claims powers in this area. Powers that can serve, for example, to prohibit said activity," warns the Deputy Minister."And, of course, they are of "great interest"!" remarks Rodríguez- "In fact, the rejection of these surveys has provoked the largest institutional and social mobilizations in the history of the Autonomy."
On the other hand, in relation to the consultation promoted by the Executive, the Deputy Minister reiterates, it "strictly adheres to the constitutional framework and is protected by several laws" and attaches in the statement several articles of the Constitution, the Statute of Autonomy and the Regulations of the Parliament of the Canary Islands.
Rodríguez also recalls "the recognition by Repsol's shareholders of pressure from the operator, the Ministry of Industry, regarding a project, the surveys in the Canary Islands, which are not of special strategic importance for the company."
According to the Deputy Minister, "this is something incomprehensible in a democratic State, but even more so in a person who, despite having been born in our islands, proudly sponsors and imposes an activity that is enormously harmful to the future of our land and our people."
"If there is anyone installed in lies, it is Soria, the PP and Repsol. We, the Canarians, are informed. The Canary Islands will continue to fight on all possible fronts to paralyze the surveys. The consultation is legal and will be held," concludes the Deputy Minister.