.Nuria Cabrera to the PP: “It’s not just untruthful, they’re liars”

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The Finance, Economic Promotion and Human Resources Councilor of the Fuerteventura Island Council, Nuria Cabrera, answered harshly to the Popular Party after the press release in which they claimed the island institution had only executed 25 % of the real investment in works. Cabrera not only rejected that statement outright, but went further, labeling the PP “liars”, accusing them of generating “alarmism” and deliberately falsifying the truth with out‑of‑context data.

“The Popular Party is lying. It’s no longer that they miss the truth, they are liars,” the councilor said emphatically, visibly upset by a press note that, in her view, seeks “to discredit the governing group” and sow doubts about the Council’s economic management.

Cabrera explained that the PP were using budget‑execution figures from the third quarter of the year, deliberately ignoring that the last quarter is traditionally when local administrations concentrate a large share of payments and work certifications.

“Anyone who has been in politics or public administration knows that the last quarter of the year is when the most is executed,” she emphasized. “And the PP spokesperson, Claudio Gutiérrez, a person with more than 30 years in politics, is fully aware of how public administration works.”

Cabrera detailed that, as of today, Chapter 6 (investments) is 42 % executed and paid, far from the 25 % alleged by the PP. “I printed that figure just before coming to the radio,” she added, stressing that the numbers come directly from the Council’s accounting program early this Tuesday.

She reminded that many public investments are multi‑year and do not start and finish within a single fiscal year. “Works are budgeted in one year and continue into the next. It seems unbelievable that Mr Gutiérrez, with his experience, does not consider something so basic,” she said.

In response to the PP’s accusations, the councilor listed a long series of actions already carried out or underway, including:

• Fencing of Pico de la Zarza
• Works in Saladar de Jandía
• Restoration of gavias in Vallebrón
• Projects in Betancuria
• Initiatives under the “Fuerteventura Bonita por Naturaleza” program
• Gran Tarajal Senior Residence
• Upcoming Mental‑Health Residence (soon to be received)
• Therapeutic pool
• Risco Prieto industrial park
• Acquisition of machinery for the Zurita Environmental Complex

Execution of the 2025 Budget as a Whole

Cabrera explained that, using the consolidated budget that includes remaining funds, the execution rate stands at about 63.33 %; when compared with the original credits, it reaches 82.01 %.

“The numbers are there and they dismantle, one by one, the Popular Party’s arguments,” she insisted.

She also rejected claims of “wasteful” subsidies, noting that many of those allocations are contributions to autonomous bodies such as the Tourism Board, the Island Water Council, the Disability Care Center, the Technology Park, and the UNED.

“Do we cut subsidies to the primary sector, the third sector, grassroots sport, or our culture? Say it clearly,” she challenged.

Cabrera further criticized the PP’s opposition work, pointing out that in two years they have not submitted any amendments to the governing group’s budgets, limiting their activity to a handful of initiatives.

2026 Budget: €183 Million

One of the PP’s reproaches is the delay in presenting the 2026 budget, which they demand be advanced. Cabrera acknowledged the delay, attributing it to recent regulatory changes and, especially, a public‑sector salary increase that forced a major recalculation of the draft.

“The budget was practically closed and we had to redo everything,” she explained.

Nevertheless, she assured that the 2026 accounts are already under audit and that the budget will total just over €183 million, with about €42 million earmarked for investments. Priorities include:

• Hydraulic works (€9 million)
• The Island Municipal Cooperation Plan
• Road infrastructure projects

Management of the Mental‑Health Residence Awaiting Handover

Special mention was given to the so‑called PICOS, which concentrate large multi‑year investments. Projects in this category include:

• Antigua Sports City (soon to be tendered)
• Puerto del Rosario Sports City (project already approved)
• Completion of the Casa del Inglés in La Oliva (awaiting idea competition)
• Management of the Mental‑Health Residence

Cabrera affirmed that the residence’s construction is complete but has not yet been received, pending resolution of technical issues mainly related to wiring. The management contract has been awarded to San Juan de Dios, a specialist organization in socio‑health and mental‑health care. She expects the facility to become operational in March.

100 % Free Public Transport… With More State Support Needed

“The priority is to serve the people and keep investing in the island’s real needs,” the councilor said, highlighting the economic effort required to maintain free public transport, a service costing roughly €9 million per year. She noted that only 17 % of that cost (€2 million) is currently funded by the State, leaving a shortfall in the Council’s coffers.

The tendering process for the service is nearing completion, with publication expected mid‑2026. Cabrera explicitly called on the Canary Islands Government to pressure the Spanish State to assume at least 80 % of the cost of the service in Fuerteventura.

Lack of State General Budgets Undermines Planning

Finally, the councilor described the absence of the State’s General Budgets as “far from good,” warning that the budget extension is causing delays in transfers, planning insecurity, and financing problems in key areas such as hydraulic works, roads, and personnel management. These issues, she said, directly and negatively affect autonomous communities, island councils, and municipalities.