Santa Cruz de Tenerife 8 Apr. (Press Europa) –
The Vice President and Minister of Economy of the Government of the Canary Islands, Manuel Domínguez, declared on Tuesday that his administration is preparing a proposal to request the central government to reimburse the Canary Islands for the costs incurred over a year “unfairly and unnecessarily” for the care of 1,008 migrant minors seeking asylum, following a ruling by the Supreme Court.
In response to a query from the socialist group during the parliamentary control session, he accused the central government of “burdening” the archipelago by neglecting the guardianship responsibilities for the minors, to the extent that the ruling was later revoked due to the “pressure” exerted from the islands.
Domínguez asserted that the Government of the Canary Islands is the authority that “most prioritises” the rights of minors more than any other entity, including the central government and the EU.
The leader of the Socialist Group, Nira Fierro, questioned Domínguez on “what actions will be taken” by the six deputies of the Canarian PP in the vote regarding the decree law reforming the foreigner law, ironically suggesting that the Canary Islands would be more inclined to “thank” the seven deputies of Junts rather than the popular party.
He reproached the vice president for “clinging to the Supreme Ruling as a lifeline,” asserting that what is being voted on this Thursday in Congress “is a comprehensive response,” rather than solely pertaining to asylum seekers.
Fierro urged the popular party in the Canary Islands to “vote in favour,” highlighting that failing to do so would “affirm” that Domínguez’s commitment to the Canary Islands “is mere paper” and that his words in politics “carry no weight.”
In fact, he has labelled the vice president as the “best soldier” of the PP, who prioritises party interests over those of the Canary Islands, while many of his colleagues such as Carlos Mazón, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, Jorge Azcón, or Marga Prohens “disparage” the islands by refusing to accept more migrant minors or challenge decisions in the Constitutional Court.
