About a year ago around this time, the PSOE won the regional elections in the Canary Islands with more than one hundred thousand votes more than Coalición Canarias and Partido Popular. An unappealable triumph at the polls that, however, was not reflected in the final formation of the government. The legitimate parliamentary majority had other plans: Fernando Clavijo as president with Manuel Domínguez as a translucent vice president.
Twelve months and some things have happened since then. Although, of the meritorious ones, none really attributable to the management of the new Government of the Canary Islands. The business card of its main partners was the breach of the word given during the electoral campaign. Let's remember it once again: neither CC nor PP were telling the truth when they promised a generalized reduction of the IGIC.
Today, with both comfortably installed in the Executive, it does not seem that they are very clear about what the course of this autonomous community should be. At least in sensitive matters such as housing, tourism, the fight against climate change or social response. They have seen in the excuse a possible answer and have resorted to it again and again in this first stage of the legislature. What is not the fault of the inheritance received, they say, is the fault of the Government of Spain, and so, between sobs and without blushing, they are trying to escape, spending the days, the weeks, the months, a year already.
The Canary Islands currently has a government that does not govern, and that when it tries to do so, it does so thinking only of the interests of a few. As with the bonus of the inheritance tax, the decree law on housing or the discount for fuel. On the other hand, no measure yet for the social majority, either to alleviate the cost of the shopping basket for families or to improve the job expectations and stability of our young people.
Where they have been quick is with the cuts, subtracting at the first opportunity funds and resources to culture, scholarships, science and innovation, the primary sector or dependency. This last case is especially painful, since, with the Pact of the Flowers, a year ago, the Canary Islands had reached record figures in benefits granted. It was even recognized as the CCAA with the highest rate of progress in social policies, according to the Association of Directors and Managers of Social Services. Today the dependency system is experiencing its worst days, standing on the verge of collapse.
A separate case is the recent repeal of the catalog of Francoist vestiges. It is striking that it is a party that calls itself nationalist that promotes a decision of these characteristics. What is really serious is that it challenges all of us as Canarians, moving us away from compliance with the Democratic Memory Law to bring us closer to the most reactionary and denialist positions. Disconcerting.
Not to mention when it comes to facing debates of a certain complexity, such as the application of an ecotax, the regulation of vacation rentals or the demographic challenge. Then, feint and ball to the councils or municipalities. Let each one ventilate them as best they can. There is also the already extensive repertoire of ideas with which President Fernando Clavijo, in particular, has been responding to other important issues, such as the necessary increase in wages in the Canary Islands.
The president of the Canary Islands has come to propose that it be the central government, through the General Budgets and the resources of all, who takes charge of this demand by applying a tax reduction to employers who pay above the collective agreement. And on to something else... It's disappointing.
All this with the most expensive and thickest government structure in public office in history. What a difference with the Executive presided over by Pedro Sánchez. Just three recent examples of his sensitivity to our singularities: exemption from the payment of the emissions tax, extension of tax deductions for audiovisual productions and green light to the express anti-blackout tender.
In recent days, we have also learned of the firm commitment of the central government to comply with the extension of the 60% IRPF bonus to the island of La Palma and raise to 7,337 million euros the amount that our Archipelago will receive as payments on account. And along with all this, the transfer of 66 million euros to combat poverty and drought.
The so-called Canarian agenda is being fulfilled to the letter, even the other signatory party, Coalición Canaria, recognizes it. This Archipelago has never had a better ally in Moncloa.
In a more general context, the news is also encouraging. The Spanish economy continues to lead the economic growth of the euro zone. Forecasts that support the economic policy of the Government of progress: growth, job creation and fiscal rigor, improving the purchasing power of families and the competitiveness of companies.
Spain is on the right track. The Canary Islands not so much.
