The PSOE of Lanzarote considers that the mobilizations of May 18 represent "a turning point" in the recent history of the island. For the socialists, the citizens have once again firmly demonstrated that "they are not willing to continue tolerating an uncontrolled tourism model that compromises access to housing, water management and quality of life."
“Lanzarote society has spoken clearly: it demands limits, planning and respect. And those who govern today cannot continue to hide,” said the general secretary of the PSOE in Lanzarote and deputy in Congress, María Dolores Corujo.
Corujo has pointed out that the island is going through a situation of social, territorial and environmental emergency that admits no more excuses: "We have a housing crisis that expels people from their own territory, a fragile territory at risk and overwhelmed public services. And in the face of that, Oswaldo Betancort and Fernando Clavijo only offer passivity, silence and more tourist licenses."
“And the most serious thing is that the data is only getting worse,” he said in a statement. “These days we learned that the province of Las Palmas is the third in all of Spain with the most vacation homes, only behind Malaga and Alicante. In addition, it is among the provinces with the highest concentration of homes per host, which reflects the speculative use of residential housing," he continued.
“Access to housing has become a privilege. While hundreds of families are looking for a decent roof, a good part of the residential park is dedicated to tourist rentals. And this is not a coincidence: it is a direct consequence of the lack of planning and the deliberate renunciation of the Cabildo and the Government of the Canary Islands to exercise their powers to protect citizens,” Corujo denounced.
“Saturday's mobilization was not a symbolic act. It was a social outcry that demands immediate action. Lanzarote no longer supports empty promises or policies dictated by private interests,” Corujo said.
“The question is no longer whether to act, but how much longer Oswaldo Betancort and Fernando Clavijo will take to do so. Either limits are imposed, or Lanzarote enters a point of no return,” Corujo sentenced.
