I have taken the liberty of paraphrasing the debut film, Sitting on the Edge of the Morning with Feet Dangling (1978), by the sadly deceased filmmaker from Tenerife, Antonio José Betancor, to gloss over the attitude maintained by the PSC-PSOE ...
I have taken the liberty of paraphrasing the debut film, Sitting on the Edge of the Morning with Feet Dangling (1978), by the sadly deceased filmmaker from Tenerife, Antonio José Betancor, to gloss over the attitude maintained by the PSC-PSOE since its unquestionable electoral triumph on May 27 did not open the doors of the Government of the Canary Islands. Parliamentary arithmetic is stubborn and unappealable, and it so happens that its application does not distinguish overseas territories from those that are part of mainland Spain. Tartuffery has taken hold of the hard line of Canarian socialism, and after announcing that "we will not give this government even a hundred days of grace," it entrenches itself and begins to put into practice that strategy that it denounced when, as a result of 14-M, and derived from the events that occurred three days earlier, its main political rival went into the mountains for not knowing how to digest the verdict of the polls.
We reached the summer break with apocalyptic messages of the type "if we do not govern, there is no Statute," almost always starring that Messiah who claims to meditate on each and every one of the words he pronounces. We thought they were the death throes of the result of the pacts. We were wrong. Now, the drama of immigration rebounds, our statutory reform languishes, and in the preparation of the General State Budgets, Coalición Canaria is punished for not enthroning the man who could have reigned. The Canary Islands are not on Zapatero's agenda because those of Coalición Canaria have not accompanied with palm leaves the reliquary of snubs suffered by the Archipelago. To neutralize this widespread feeling of abandonment, the Canarian socialists, hastily, concatenate disqualifications, if not insults, launch challenges and threats, and, like little children who have just committed a prank, they smile when the recalcitrant islander who does the dirty work for them is compensated with perks in the Carrera de San Jerónimo.
That is not the way. The Canary Islands need everyone's help. That complacent attitude of the PSOE, watching the procession go by, sitting, leisurely, expectant, ready when someone insinuates some of their meanness, forgetful and in a permanent state of vigilance against any barrage that stains the immaculate habit of their martyr, must be banished. The brawl, from the indolence of those who are more concerned with cheering the torrent of empty promises that emanate from Madrid, is the watchword with which they seem to intend to reach that nearby March: sitting on the edge of the brawl with their feet dangling.
Even so, from Coalición Canaria we remain determined to seek dialogue with the PSOE, a will that we hope will also shake some consciences within the Canarian socialists, who seem to have settled into tension, favoring a pre-electoral environment that is unbreathable. The PSC-PSOE must understand, once and for all, that the Canary Islands cannot be the victim of a tantrum derived from its non-presence in the formation of the autonomous government. Feeding the brawl in each and every one of the appearances of the Canarian socialist leaders is not the best way to comply with the mandate of the polls. Each one has been assigned a role to play. The CC-PP pact is more than legitimized to carry out a work that is being carried out with firmness and results. The PSOE is responsible for performing the functions of the opposition. But it is not acceptable that this is focused on permanent tension.
Coalición Canaria and the Government of the Canary Islands suffer snubs for the mere fact of not having surrendered to the demands of the PSOE, of not having succumbed to the laminating of our statutory reform. Blackmail is not the best way to build bridges. Coalición Canaria, and its governments, have always maintained the will to maintain a fluid relationship with the Government of the State, whatever its sign, but the budgetary snub and Zapatero's obsession with not receiving the Canarian president are proof that some prefer to reach March paying for the disagreement. This perception is corroborated when, to justify what is no less than a lack of respect towards the entire Canarian citizenry, it is pointed out that what is happening is the result of not having embraced, without conditions, an autonomous pact with the PSOE. And, in the meantime, the Canary Islands represent a blank space in Zapatero's diary.
Together we can make a better Canary Islands. However, while the Canarian Government is ahead in housing policies, has initiated a path of consensus with the universities, has taken a step forward in its commitment to increase the security of the Canarians, has constituted a table of dialogue with the professors?, the opposition remains trapped in the electoral night of May 27. With their feet dangling.
José Torres Stinga.
National President of Coalición Canaria.
