Manuel Hernández (PSOE) says it is an «opportunity» to recognize the islands and Esther González (NC-bc) sees the Executive as «resigned»
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 16 (EUROPA PRESS)
The Minister of Finance of the Government of the Canary Islands, Matilde Asián (PP), has acknowledged that budget forecasts were «thrown out the window» last Monday after the government’s initial agreement with Catalonia regarding ‘unique’ financing that will «significantly influence» the archipelago.
In response to questions from the PSOE and NC-bc in parliamentary committee, she commented that she does not understand what «uniqueness» Catalonia can have when it «does not have a funding problem» since per capita funding «is higher,» perhaps it may have a «management» problem because knowing «where the money is spent is a very important element.»
In that sense, she said that the «main challenge» of the autonomous community is to «guarantee» the uniqueness of the islands and given that autonomous financing should be based on actual cost, the Canary Islands present a territorial «fragmentation» that makes the cost «higher.»
The minister has admitted that she would like to make a budget «with a country that had a budget» that would allow autonomous communities to «do the job,» but there is «no stability or debt goal» and they have set it at 0.1% of the surplus included in the 2023 budget strategy. «We don’t like it, we would like to spend more within the limits of the EU,» she explained.
She has not hidden that «uncertainty is accumulating» and that autonomous communities are being subjected to an «unparalleled suffocation,» but in response to opposition criticism, she indicated that her government is not «resigned,» although it cannot spend all that it collects.
«We want to fight for the good of the Canary Islands, but we are not satisfied with being required to have a surplus, it is inadequate for the Canary Islands, it is not understandable to amortize debt when it is being forgiven for those who spend more than they earn,» she emphasized.
LITTLE ROOM FOR ECONOMIC BOOST
In that sense, she commented that next year’s budget will allocate almost 80% of the funds to social spending, leaving a «limited» margin for boosting productive sectors.
Manuel Hernández (PSOE) commented that his group is «concerned» about the preparation of autonomous budgets after the «deviated path» of the 2024 and 2025 exercises, and in the face of a government that «budgets poorly and executes worse,» he wondered if the 5% of GDP in education will be met, if public universities will receive sufficient funds, if they will «correct» fiscal policy, or if public services will be punished for «poor management.»
He also commented that «recognizing uniqueness,» as has happened with Catalonia in the financial realm, «should be an opportunity to strengthen the Canary Islands,» something that is not strengthened by «walking away from negotiation tables» as was done a few months ago, a move that even the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, «criticized.»
Esther González (NC-bc) commented that the government has «less ambition» and is preparing budgets with «less investment» and with the feeling that they «do not even try to spend it,» as this year they will end up with 534 million in budgetary non-execution, something that is now being promoted as «a virtue,» she quipped.
«This government has thrown in the towel on investments,» she pointed out, while reproaching its lack of «courage and vision.» «Canarias needs more action and fewer resigned speeches,» she explained.
