Canary Government Claims State Neglects Islands with Its Measures
The regional government will analyze with social and economic agents what it can mobilize with its own resources.
The spokesperson for the Canary Islands Government, Alfonso Cabello, called the plan of measures announced last Friday by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to mitigate the economic impact of the war in Iran—a package of 80 measures amounting to up to €5 billion—a “fiasco”, because it “forgets” the autonomous community.
He made these remarks during the press conference that followed the Council of Government held on Monday in Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura).
Cabello, who also serves as Vice‑Councillor for the Presidency, emphasized that throughout Sánchez’s intervention there was a “constant” focus on the Value‑Added Tax (VAT) and how it would benefit all Spaniards.
“But there is no need to remind anyone that VAT does not apply in the Canary Islands, and therefore the bulk of those measures—if not all—will not reach the archipelago,” Cabello observed.
He also stressed that the central government and the PSOE “once again forget the Canary Islands,” adding that Minister of Territorial Policy and Secretary General of the Canary Socialist Party, Ángel Víctor Torres, “won’t be pleased to attend a Cabinet meeting where he can’t even put a measure for the islands on the table.”
CANARY ISLANDS ANALYZE WHAT OWN MEASURES THEY CAN IMPLEMENT
“We understand that what Pedro Sánchez announced is a fiasco and a failure for the Canary Islands. Now it is up to us to step forward, not only to analyse those disappointing measures but also to see what we are capable of mobilising,” Cabello said.
He noted that President Fernando Clavijo will chair a meeting of the President’s Advisory Council this Monday to discuss with social and economic agents which actions the regional executive can take in response to the price increases caused by the war in Iran.
Cabello also warned that any initiative undertaken by the autonomous government will come at the expense of the 2026 Autonomous Budget.
He labelled it a “blunder” for the Spanish government to claim it cannot approve the 2026 State General Budget (PGE) because of the war in Iran, when the budget has already been postponed for three years.
“The incapacity and weakness of Pedro Sánchez’s socialist government to formulate a PGE is clear and evident,” he explained, adding that “the government was barely able last Friday to approve the anti‑crisis decree after the Cabinet of its coalition partner was ‘lifted.’”
Cabello suggested that the state might allow the Canary Islands to incur additional debt if the region must use its own resources to face rising prices.
He stressed that any funds used for this purpose should not be diverted from other sectors such as Education or Health.
“Let us be allowed to borrow a little more. We have the capacity because the Canary Islands are the least indebted autonomous community in Spain,” the spokesperson affirmed.
NO DATE SET TO ADDRESS THE “CANARY DECREES”
Finally, the Canary Islands Government remains awaiting a concrete date to meet with Vice‑President María Jesús Montero to discuss the “Canary Decrees.”
“If the delay continues, I’m not sure what we’ll end up talking about—whether it will be the ‘Canary Decrees,’ the anti‑crisis measures, or something else entirely,” he lamented.