Madam President, councilors, ladies and gentlemen, fellow citizens in general, good afternoon.
I will confess that acting as spokesperson on a day like today, in addition to being an honor, is a major responsibility for several reasons.
For representing the 13,781 citizens, and every vote counts, who gave their support to the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party,
for speaking on behalf of the 9 councilors, four more than in the previous term, who make up this political group
and also for doing so on the day we welcome a new president, a new political era on the island of Lanzarote.
I am grateful, President, to my group colleagues Ariagona, Andrés, Isabel, Alberto, Rosa, Hugo and Carmen for the trust placed in me.
Allow me to begin by congratulating the outgoing councilors for their work, and each of the 23 councilors who make up this Corporation.
I have no doubt that we all love this island equally and come with the best intentions, regardless of the acronyms under which we ran in the elections.
23 councilors in a plenary that has changed.
Where there were 8 political forces, today there are 4,
Of the 23 councilors, only 6 of us are repeating in this term, and also, in a plenary session where we proclaim a new President.
Many changes for a new era, for a new corporation that must face the pending challenges and opportunities.
Let's look to the future with optimism, because even though it is true what our illustrious Government Delegate, Agustín Torres, wrote
"it is a very common custom among the inhabitants of this island that in all meetings they end up talking about how good the past was",
it is even more true that the best is yet to come in Lanzarote and La Graciosa, given the talent and resources that we fortunately have.
And speaking of challenges and opportunities, President, councilors.
The success of this term, of this Corporation and of the island will depend to a large extent on whether we are able to:
1) Initiate a process of political regeneration, in which respect for the adversary and for the Institution itself is very present.
Respect for the different ideas that each one may have about what is best for the island, but also for the Cabildo as an Institution, whether it is for each of the 23 councilors, or for the workers, an essential pillar without which almost nothing is possible.
Let's value the role of an entity that in economic, social and political terms must be a leader, but also in transparency, participation and democratic debate.
Debate that cannot become an unbearable noise that prevents us from listening to each other. Let's avoid the unnecessary tension that drives many people away from politics and institutional life.
I call at this point for a shared reflection and I know that because of your character, President, it will be possible to achieve it.
As a second major challenge, councilors:
2. Place people at the center of our political action:
It is essential to aspire to make the Cabildo increasingly social, more supportive of those who need it most.
Wherever there is a neighbor having a hard time, and it could be any of us, the Cabildo must act. No one can be left behind on an island so full of opportunities like Lanzarote.
In this, the Cabildo and the Town Councils must go hand in hand, providing resources, improving our coordination and betting that in the face of the precariousness, the difficulties of our people, there are no administrative barriers but shared work.
If the territory is important, those who inhabit it are much more so.
As a third challenge:
3) The updating of the Planning instruments,
The approval of the new Island Plan, the Plan of La Geria or the Prug of Chinijos are pending issues for too long that we must see them as essential objectives and as a starting point, not a destination.
Starting point because it will also be necessary to strengthen the island plan office, expand the number of guards of our territory, address the debate on the execution of the judgments issued in defense of our territorial model, etc., all of which must, if you allow me, overcome one acronym or another.
I know that you will lead the great agreement for the Territory that we need.
An agreement beyond the Government group itself.
PP and PSOE, PSOE and PP, with 13 councilors we are the government, but we must be aware that in this matter both the opposition and the social and business forces must co-star the agreement on the planning that returns to this island the leadership we had.
I am sure, President, Jacobo, but also leaders of the opposition that we will have high-mindedness and generosity so that this plenary hall hosts the debate and voting of the rules that will mark the territorial future of the island of Lanzarote and its natural spaces.
Moving from calls for agreement to the approval of the many pending issues will be a collective success, a success for all.
And we maintain it despite past difficulties and disagreements. We must make it possible, because good planning generates opportunities for the inhabitants of our island.
Opportunities such as:
Initiate a process of reconversion of our tourism industry to make it more competitive and fair, because there is no quality tourism without quality working conditions.
Support economic diversification through the development of the primary sector and renewable energies, facing the challenge of climate change.
Or promote an island vision of Lanzarote from interterritorial solidarity that helps to improve the living conditions of our citizens.
Opportunities that we cannot miss and that the new planning should help us to achieve.
But there are more challenges, such as:
4. Betting on a capital plan for Arrecife: because improving the Port should be a priority for both the municipal government, where I am sure there will be good news, and the rest of the Administrations, all of them.
It is about adding efforts, planning and management, because talking about Arrecife is talking about Lanzarote and vice versa, and the island will benefit greatly if its capital is on the political agenda in a decisive and continuous way.
These are some of the challenges for these four years that await us, along with improving the degree of budget execution, educational, health, social or road infrastructures; the conflict of La Cueva or the care of our landscape.
For this, in addition to desire and commitment, institutional stability is necessary.
Colleagues from the Popular Party, colleagues from the government group, President, we have an opportunity not only to achieve the stated challenges, but to demonstrate to public opinion that different parties in ideological terms, we are able to agree on a government program for four years and carry it out.
I have no doubt that we will be a solid and firm government, because we will be united by a common goal: Lanzarote.
Let's avoid unnecessary confrontations, which add nothing and subtract credibility from the public, even more so when there is so much to do from the Government, but also from the opposition.
Because in a Democracy the government and the opposition are equally necessary.
We ask those who have the duty to oversee the Government to do so, but to also give an opportunity to agreements and proposals.
And to finish, allow me to dedicate a few words to our colleague, General Secretary and new President.
Maria Dolores Corujo Berriel, the citizens of Lanzarote and La Graciosa have decided that you lead this Institution for the next four years, with loyalty to the general interest, with ambition to achieve the pending challenges and dignity in the exercise of the Presidency.
You already demonstrated in your native municipality, San Bartolomé, that another way of doing politics is possible, and that is how the neighbors have rewarded you with historical support.
The eight councilors who accompany you will leave the best of us for this Institution and for the one who made it possible for a socialist woman to preside over it again after almost a decade.
I can only wish you and wish you, President, councilors, health, luck and that we make the 160,000 children of this land happier.
On behalf of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, good term to all.
By Marcos Bergaz
