The leader of the Canarian government asserts the necessity for “pragmatic policies” to counteract “noise from Madrid” and encourages the “normalisation” of daily life in Restinga.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 25 March. (Europa Press) –
The president of the Canary Islands Government, Fernando Clavijo, stated on Tuesday that there is no “concern” regarding the possibility of the autonomous communities filing claims before the Constitutional Court against the Decree-Law concerning migrant minors. However, he acknowledged that a “challenging journey” filled with “tensions and delays” lies ahead.
“This issue revolves around morality and justice, and eventually, if we remain steadfast, do not relent, and act with institutional loyalty, matters will resolve themselves,” he expressed during a session he requested before the Parliament Plenary.
He indicated that the Canary Islands will participate in all legal actions that may arise to uphold the “legality and ethics” of the amendments to the Foreigners Law, aimed at “safeguarding the best interests of minors” and ensuring that the regions possess the necessary resources to support these minors.
Clavijo highlighted the importance of “pragmatic policies” in response to the “noise from Madrid” and extended an invitation to representatives of the ‘Canarian Pact for Immigration’ to accompany them in Congress on 10 April for the validation of the Decree-Law, thereby presenting a united front from the Canary Islands.
The president expressed gratitude for the efforts of Lehendakari Imanol Pradales and Minister of Territorial Policy Ángel Víctor Torres during a later part of his speech, urging the central government to allocate resources to “normalise” living conditions in areas experiencing significant migratory pressure, such as Restinga, and to enhance collaboration with African nations.
He also challenged Vox’s stance, which is the only party that has distanced itself from the migration pact, stating that their position contradicts human rights.
Raúl Acosta, spokesperson for the Mixed Group, claimed that the Decree-Law represents a “victory for the Canary Islands” as the “burden” previously borne alone will now be shared with other communities and labelled it a “failure” of the State, arguing that the reform of the Foreigners Law constitutes a “serious violation of Article 2 of the Spanish Constitution and also Article 138.”
He criticized the “hypocrisy prevalent on the Peninsula” for overlooking the realities faced by the Canary Islands and for weaponising immigration as a “political tool,” especially when some communities with just over 130 minors claim to be overwhelmed.
“Take El Hierro, with 10,000 residents, we had 300 minors. What if we could, as an autonomous community with millions of inhabitants?” he queried.
Casimiro Curbelo, spokesperson for Asg, underscored the “perseverance and exemplification of pragmatic policies” in implementing the Decree-Law, asserting that it signifies “a turning point” in addressing immigration issues as conditions in the minors’ centres are “unsustainable.”
“It is essential to secure validation in the Congress of Deputies clearly and, as such, I appeal to all parliamentary factions to lower their guard and, naturally, ensure effective implementation,” he stated.
Vox questions future capacity of centres
Vox spokesperson Nicasio Galván queried “what will happen” when the child centres reach full capacity again, urging the Canary Government to negotiate agreements with countries of origin to facilitate repatriation.
He called for a distinction between “illegal refugees and immigrants,” challenged the appropriateness of the so-called “effective policy,” and urged action against crime, maritime fatalities, and traffickers, asserting that the agreement for distributing minors is merely a “temporary solution.”
Galván also requested that African countries enforce the bilateral agreements established with Spain and cease “blackmailing,” warning of the “very complex path” that the Decree-Law opens as it “mandates” the distribution.
Luis Campos, spokesperson for NC-BC, remarked that the implementation of the Decree-Law would be rife with “obstacles and challenges,” thus maintaining that the ‘Canarian Pact for Immigration’ needs to remain active as “it is still in progress.”
The Government of the Canary Islands has highlighted funding cuts in cooperation while the PP has introduced “blockades” to prevent agreement, opposing the “vote no” stance in Congress or “abandoning the table” in response to actions by the central government, which has managed to advance the reform of Article 35 of the Foreigners Law alongside Junts. “It is not the same,” he remarked.
PP: The PSOE has caused suffering in the Canaries
The spokesperson for the Popular Group, Luz Reverón, defended the “institutional loyalty” of both the president and the vice president of the government, questioning “why” the PSOE has allowed the Canaries to suffer for such an extended period.
She stated that the State must take responsibility for safeguarding minors, ensuring it remains untainted by “partisan” politics, particularly since this is an ongoing issue that would likely present challenges in a year’s time.
Reverón condemned the “inaction” of the central government, which took over a year to recognise that immigration is a “national issue” and has instead focused on muddling political affairs.
José Miguel Barragán, spokesperson for the nationalist group, reproached various parties for adopting an “extreme approach” rather than concentrating on the “success” of the Decree-Law, whilst lauding Clavijo’s “leadership” and “dedication” in addressing the migratory crisis.
He noted the “intentionality” of the PSOE to disrupt the government alliance in the Canary Islands, advocating for an “efficient” distribution model and expressing confidence that the “constitutional attacks” would withstand scrutiny. “It is well-prepared,” he said.
The Socialist Group’s spokesperson, Sebastián Franquis, defended the loyalty and discretion exhibited by the central government in pushing for the legal amendment against a pact which “compelled” Clavijo to back a migration plan endorsed by “the far right.”
He accused the PP of “impeding” solutions for a year and a half, critiquing Clavijo for failing to acknowledge the “role” of the Government and Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, and suggested awarding “a medal” to the mayor of El Pinar for their handling of the migratory crisis in Restinga.
Furthermore, he expressed disappointment regarding Canarian deputies from the PP who oppose the Decree-Law in Congress.
