The President of the Canaries asserts that they will not be “complicit” in violations of rights and condemns the “lack of political will.”
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 6 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, has expressed his disapproval this Friday regarding the central Government’s handling of the migration crisis currently affecting the archipelago, claiming that they simply “look the other way.”
“They are giving us the runaround,” he stated during a press conference he requested ahead of the Plenary Session of the Parliament of the Canary Islands, where he condemned the “lack of political will” to address the issue, as evidenced last weekend when there was insufficient capacity to accommodate more unaccompanied migrant minors in El Hierro, leading to “pressure” from state media.
Nonetheless, he urged the Executive to “meet” with PP and Junts to finalise the amendment of the immigration law, emphasising that “no one” has clarified why there have been no discussions.
He believes that the residents of the Canaries and the migrant minors “deserve the respect of at least trying.”
For this reason, he has called for a “clear commitment” from both the Socialists and the Popular Party to conclude the negotiations and has announced intentions to present another communication to the Parliament of the Canary Islands proposing a simulation for the distribution of migrant minors.
Additionally, he remarked that the 35 million euros allocated this week for the reception of migrants are “insufficient” for the Canary Islands, demanding 150 million, particularly since the EU has funds available for such cases.
The president has also taken issue with socialist spokesperson Sebastián Franquis for publicly disclosing the meeting from August 12th, which he noted was part of a spokespersons’ meeting, stressing that a “national agreement” is essential involving all institutions.
He has questioned the socialists for “misdirecting the issue” and trivialising the “drama” of migration in the islands, especially given the “management problem” that has left the Canary Islands “alone.”
In this context, he asserted that the “same treatment” was afforded to the reception of Ukrainians and Afghan nationals, a process that was “coordinated” by the central government, to the extent that “photos were taken” upon their arrival in Torrejón de Ardoz.
Regarding the role of Canarian PP, a governing partner in the archipelago, he mentioned he reproached them for not even abstaining from voting on the processing of the bill, although he does acknowledge that his primary focus must remain on those who are in power.
He further denied any shift in immigration policy under his governance, claiming that all unaccompanied minors are accommodated and not left “out in the open and without food,” while emphasising the need to review protocols to “protect” the rights of these minors and public workers.
“We will not be complicit in the systematic violation of minors’ rights. We will not be complicit in leaving the Canarian people to shoulder all the migratory pressure from the African continent,” he affirmed.
THERE: “WE TALK A LOT, WE SAY LITTLE”
Raúl Acosta, spokesperson for AHI, questioned “where is the European Commission” amidst the migration crisis in the Canary Islands, as it did intervene in Lampedusa, and why the Spanish Government has not requested Frontex’s activation.
“We talk a lot, we say little, and the worst part is that we do much less,” he summarised in an analysis of the situation.
ASG spokesperson Casimiro Curbelo highlighted the “unity” of the Canarian pact regarding immigration and demanded “dialogue” to devise a solution, which in his view should involve reforming the immigration law. “It would be detrimental for politics if we do not reach agreements,” he stated.
Nicasio Galván, spokesperson for Vox, has criticised the central government’s “lack of planning” and “lack of interest” in immigration issues, joking that President Pedro Sánchez travelled to Africa to advocate for deportations as a means to combat mafias, a stance his party has consistently upheld.
Luis Campos, spokesman for NC-BC, questioned the Canarian Government’s “ambiguity” surrounding the reception of migrant minors, reproached the PP for “not taking any action,” and urged the PSOE to avoid being “so slow” in decision-making.
NC-BC: THE PRESIDENT HAS “TORTICOLLIS”
He also targeted the Canarian president, Fernando Clavijo, suggesting he seems to have a stiff neck for only “looking in one direction,” neglecting his vice president, the leader of the Canarian Popular Party, Manuel Domínguez.
Juan Manuel García Casañas, leader of the Popular Party, has questioned Sánchez’s immigration policy since his arrival at La Moncloa in 2018, especially during a time of intense “concern” within Canarian society. “We will not abandon them,” he asserted.
The spokesperson for the Nationalist Group, José Miguel Barragán, noted that immigration is a “global issue” not dependent on the “political colour” of a nation, and he invited both the PSOE and PP to make a “final effort” to establish an agreement “despite the verbal tension.”
Franquis (PSOE) reproached the Canarian PP for the vice president’s absence from the Plenary Session due to attending a summit in Madrid convened by Alberto Núñez Feijóo, insisting that “the large issue” was initiated by the popular party blocking the processing of the law reform.
He accused Clavijo of having “covered up” for his government partner and of “misguidedly” choosing his rival, given that the PSOE, which voted in favour of the legal reform, is not to blame.