The PSOE claims that the statistics are “devastating,” while NC-BC describes the regional government’s management as “negligent and reckless.”
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 1 Apr. (Press Europa) –
The Ministry of Finance has released an early report on the budgetary execution figures for the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands for the year 2024, indicating a completion rate of 89.5% of a total loan amounting to 12,682 million euros. This results in 1,329.6 million euros remaining unutilised.
Manuel Hernández, the PSOE spokesman for the Treasury in the Parliament of the Canary Islands, referred to the data as “devastating,” asserting that it reveals “the most inefficient management and ineffective government in the last twelve years, not to mention the most expensive in the history of the Canary Islands.”
Hernández further expressed that the “Pyrrhic” investment execution rate, which stands at 56.18% against 56.24% reported by the general intervention, is “scandalous and unacceptable,” indicating a significantly low execution of capital operations with expenses being 294.3 million euros less than in 2023.
The socialist representative noted that this data substantiates the complaints made by the socialist group over the past two years.
“We are confronted with a CC and PP government that lacks the ability to manage, does not possess a coherent budgetary policy, and has no political vision. Ultimately, the citizens of the Canary Islands are the ones who suffer from this incompetence,” he stated.
The Socialists have aligned themselves with NC-BC, which deems the management “disastrous.”
President Román Rodríguez labelled the administration of public resources by the CC Executive and the PP as “negligent and reckless,” highlighting that there is an excess of 2,419.6 million euros between the budgets of 2023 and 2024 without any enhancement to public services or resolution of the housing crisis, alongside a lack of infrastructure development.
“There was available funding for essential investments and services, yet it was not utilised to promote economic growth and improve the quality of life for the Canarians,” he remarked.
A “monstrous” government structure
The leader of progressive canarism critically pointed out the “monstrous” structure of the Clavijo Cabinet, which is 30% larger than in the previous legislature, stating, “Simply maintaining the new 50 posts and advisors for the government has cost over 6.3 million euros annually.”
Rodríguez described the Ministry’s figures as “alarming” and noted that they “worsen” those previously released by the general intervention of the Canary Islands, commenting that “they have broken their own record” in 2024.
According to NC-BC, the extremely low execution rate of capital operations (spending chapters VI and VII) is reported to be merely 54.81%, and it is even more concerning that 294.3 million euros less than the 2023 investments will be executed this year, as per the Ministry of Finance.
In 2023, investments totalled 1,587.9 million euros, whereas for 2024, capital operations are only estimated at 1,293.6 million euros, according to the Treasury.
Román Rodríguez contends that the budget management is “negligent and reckless,” adding that recent figures disclosed by the same ministry on March 27 reveal a surplus of 537 million euros in 2024, equating to 0.93% of the gross domestic product (GDP). “This is entirely irresponsible,” he condemned.
