In the midst of an economic crisis, when Lanzarote would need more than ever for institutions and political representatives to rise to the occasion to steer the ship, the island is crashing head-on with ...
In the midst of an economic crisis, when Lanzarote would need more than ever for institutions and political representatives to rise to the occasion to steer the ship, the island is crashing head-on with a very different reality. A reality that has been dragging on for years, but which is now much more difficult to digest.
If in the last decade the consequences of the continuous instability in the institutions and the lack of stature of the political class have been paid dearly, not to mention other things, in the current context it is even more painful. And we are reaping the bitter fruits of all those wasted years, but we are also suffering from the lack of current reaction.
Especially embarrassing is the situation that is being experienced in the town councils of Arrecife and Teguise, both bogged down in a government minority as a result of the adventurous policies of pacts that were undertaken after Operation "Unión".
In La Villa, it is still difficult to understand what exactly Coalición Canaria wanted to do, besides taking the baton. And presenting a motion of censure together with the PSOE, to then leave it in the ditch and seek the support, precisely, of the party that had just been censured, is too surreal even for Lanzarote, no matter how accustomed it is to unusual political spectacles. And now, not only CC, but the municipality as a whole, is paying the consequences of that play that was far from being masterful, and that has left them with a mini government group.
And in Arrecife, the situation is even worse, since not only has the weakness of Cándido Reguera's team been revealed, but also, his only option to regain the majority is in the hands of two people arrested and charged in Operation "Jable". And the PIL, their partners, the City Council and all of Arrecife have been waiting for these councilors for more than two months. Of course, every Monday starts with an announcement from the government group assuring that this week will not pass. But neither is the announcement fulfilled, nor do they explain in what sense they expect it to be resolved, nor what is going to make these two people charged with bribery change their attitude and hand over the minutes or reappear at the City Council.
The farce that is being experienced in this legislature is even surpassing the darkest chapters of Lanzarote's political history, which had a "culminating" moment when Dimas Martín took the position of president of the Cabildo to the Tahíche prison, with the approval of his party and those who were then his partners. But although on a larger scale, what is happening now is another example of what has been happening in recent years, in which politicians have taken institutions hostage, with the sole objective of maintaining power.
And while they laughed at the graces of defection, the continuous changes of political jacket color of some and the impossible pacts, in which everyone criticized the PIL but then they were the first to knock on their door in search of alliances, the island has been sinking into abandonment.
The paralysis that the opposition of the PSOE-PIL pact that started this legislature so much denounced, is an example of what has been experienced in the last three decades, and is certainly far from coming to an end.
After more than half a year of new government in Arrecife, and more than eight months in the Cabildo, it seems that the excuses and apologies for everything are in looking to the past, as if they had arrived yesterday. And what is worse, in the face of criticism, the most frequent response is that the socialists did the same, as if it now turns out that they have changed the government to continue doing the same thing that they criticized so much. And it is that politicians, both one and the other, forget that they do not have to respond to the adversary, but to the citizens.
And as long as they continue like this, we will continue to experience situations as grotesque as those of the Islote de La Fermina, the Insular Theater, the ice factory, the Arrecife nursery, the civic center?
Infrastructures completed years ago (three in the case of the nursery), but which inexplicably remain unopened. And the blame, of course, always lies with the previous one. Never the one who at that moment has the power, whatever it may be.
The institutions are not even able to fix a pothole, such as the one that appeared a week ago in La Voz de Lanzarote, and that has been on the road of the Civil Guard of Costa Teguise for years, and the few works that are done do not even open their doors, after having cost millions of euros. And the explanations are so unclear and so unconvincing that, either there are unconfessable reasons or problems, or we are really facing a chronic and generalized incompetence of all those who approach power on the island. And the worst thing is that sometimes we are so used to it that it does not even generate enough indignation.
