Political decadence in its purest form.
The government group of the Cabildo, formed by CC and the PSOE, proposed to the Plenary of the Cabildo of Lanzarote an increase in the gasoline tax, from 0.0079 €/ liter to 0.02 €/ liter, as well as the inclusion of diesel in this new tax for which 2 cents per liter would also be paid.
It is surprising, and very much so, that this proposal is made by the Socialist Party on the island that registers the highest levels of unemployment in Spain and on the island where the shopping basket is the most expensive and where the price of fuel is the most expensive. Without a doubt, the island that leads the ranking in "cost of living".
It goes without saying that the role of the Cabildo of Lanzarote must be to work, in a resounding way, to reverse this situation and do everything possible to reduce the tax pressure suffered by the inhabitants of this island, tired of having to "pay more for everything". Therefore, it is unacceptable and intolerable that the Cabildo itself actively contributes to increasing the standard of living in Lanzarote.
But they also do it, and I think it is important to point it out, when the economic-financial situation of the Cabildo is optimal, as both CC and the PSOE have repeatedly stated in the media.
I also think it is essential that the people of Lanzarote know that in the 2013 financial year, of the 12 million euros that the Cabildo had budgeted for investments, resources that are what can really generate economic activity and create employment, the corporation barely spent 5 million euros. This data is fundamental to get an idea of the "shamelessness" that the proposal to raise taxes and create a new one is.
But, returning to the title of my reflection: What a mess for the PSOE!.
On the one hand, they criticize the tax increase carried out by the Spanish Government, despite the fact that they left the country in the greatest misery, and on the other hand they raise taxes in the Government of the Canary Islands, increasing the IGIC by a percentage greater than the VAT, 40%, which is even "understandable" if the Autonomous Community had economic-financial and liquidity problems.
However, what is unacceptable is that the same PSOE that criticizes the tax increase in Spain, despite the precarious situation of the country, is the same PSOE that supports the tax increase in the Canary Islands and the same PSOE that proposes a tax increase in Lanzarote, recognizing, as they do, that the Cabildo has no economic-financial problems to face the services that are its responsibility. It is understood, therefore, that the island institution has sufficient resources to undertake the maintenance of the roads. A fact that is confirmed, if we take into account that CC and PSOE have spent more money on "niceties" and "whims" than they intended to collect.
That said. Political decadence in its purest form.
Ástrid Pérez. President of the Popular Party of Lanzarote
