Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 26 Feb. (Europa Press) –
The president of the Canary Islands Government, Fernando Clavijo, stated on Wednesday that the Canarian Executive feels “aggrieved” following the announcement of the Ministry of Finance regarding the cloud of debt impacting the regions. He remarked that it is “unreasonable” for an autonomous community with “greater wealth”—referring to Catalonia—to carry “more debt” compared to another that possesses a lower GDP yet has been “responsible.”
In comments to the press after his participation in the Assembly for Social Innovation in the Canary Islands, held in Breña Baja (La Palma), the president conveyed that this matter is not a “confrontation” between regions, but rather that “it is senseless” to assign more debt to an autonomous community that “has more wealth than another” which has been “responsible” since “when we discuss that 30%, we are not borrowing beyond our means.”
“The Canary Islands is currently the least indebted autonomous community in the entire State,” Clavijo stated, emphasising, with data at the population level, how “it is irrational” that “over 2,200 euros represent the debt condoned for a citizen of Catalonia” while “1,468 euros applies to an islander, especially when salaries in Catalonia are higher and their per capita GDP is greater than that of the Canary Islands”.”
Fernando Clavijo expressed his belief that the proposal for the reduction of debts among the Autonomous Communities could be improved “a little.” He noted that during a meeting with the State, the islands would approach this topic with “a constructive tone,” backed by “empirical evidence” and reasoning to ensure that debt condonation “is not perceived as an injustice,” while striving to avoid participating in “political squabbles.”
