The electoral reform in the Canary Islands triggered the spending of the parties in 2019 and CC concentrated almost 43% of the total

The last elections meant a campaign expense of 2.8 million euros and only Coalición Canaria allocated 1.2 million, almost double that of the PSOE and twelve times more than Sí Podemos

November 23 2020 (13:22 WET)
Updated in November 23 2020 (14:44 WET)
Coalition Canaria kicks off the election campaign

The change in the electoral system in the Canary Islands, with more deputies and a new autonomous constituency, and the demographic increase, boosted the spending of political parties in the last regional elections of 2019 by approximately half a million euros, to exceed 2.8 million.

This is reflected in the report of the Court of Auditors presented this Monday in Parliament by the president, Pedro Pachecho, who has endorsed that the parties complied with the regulations and did not exceed the established spending limits.

According to the report, CC was by far the party that invested the most money in the elections, with 1.2 million, which represents almost 43% of the total, followed by the PSOE (678,180.13), Nueva Canarias (394,347.88), Partido Popular (343,410.38), Ciudadanos (147,262.12), Sí Podemos (102,594.74) and Agrupación Socialista Gomera (12,509.04), which only ran for the island constituency.

In addition, CC justified all expenses and is the only party that does not present allegations, while PP, NC, PSOE and ASG have left small gaps exceeding 10,000 euros.

Pacheco valued that all parties submitted the documentation on the required date and although ASG increased the cost limit, he pointed out that 25% more is allowed if several elections are held and in May of last year there was also a vote for the European elections. In addition, he commented that seven companies that invoiced more than 10,000 euros in the elections have not yet informed the hearing.

 

They ask for "regulatory clarification"

As a recommendation, the Hearing proposes to modify the current regulations to adapt them to the new digital reality, since it dates from 1985, and to review the disbursement of subsidies so that the parties can pay their suppliers promptly.

Likewise, Pachecho proposes more "regulatory clarification" to better define which expenses are specific to the island constituencies and which belong to the regional one.

Vidina Espino, spokesperson for the Mixed Group (Cs), commented that the direct shipments of electoral envelopes are awaiting certification from Correos and stressed that they are waiting for their suppliers to make the information available to the Hearing.

She has asked that it be clarified in the future how to justify the expenses and that the subsidies be advanced to be able to cover the payments on time.

Melodie Mendoza (ASG) valued the "meticulous" work of the Court of Auditors and that all political parties have complied because they must be "exemplary" in justifying expenses.

Manuel Marrero, spokesperson for Sí Podemos, commented that the past elections were "different" due to the increase in constituencies and deputies, which increased spending, calling it "curious" that the parties that only run in one island, put up electoral fences in another given the 'emigration' of their voters.

Luis Campos, spokesperson for NC, said that the work of the Court of Auditors is "complex" and has been presented "in a timely manner", highlighting the "remarkable progress" of the parties in complying with the precepts of the electoral processes.

Fernando Enseñat, from the Popular Group, highlighted that "all" political parties have complied with the regulations "when electoral processes are looked at with a magnifying glass", commenting that those of 2019 "were not easy at all" because several electoral processes accumulated.

In addition, he thanked the work of supporters and affiliates of the parties who do "disinterested" work to transfer the documentation to the voters.

Rosa Dávila (CC-PNC) praised the effort of the Court of Auditors to present the report "in a timely manner" and also of the economic administrators of the parties, helping to improve the "transparency" of the electoral accounts, especially last year when the electoral reform came into force.

Pedro Viera (PSOE) highlighted the "speed" of the Hearing in preparing the report and warned of the "confusion" that the distribution of expenses in different electoral processes and also between the same constituencies can generate.

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