The general secretary of the PSOE of Tenerife, Tamara Raya, alongside Pedro Martín, the president of the Socialist Group in the Cabildo, has publicly condemned the “blatant political inconsistency” displayed by the island president, Rosa Dávila, of the Canarian coalition. This incident follows her vote against the socialist proposal to implement an eco-tax in Tenerife during the debate on the island’s state.
In her remarks, Raya stated, “Yesterday, Rosa Dávila outright dismissed the eco-tax proposed by the PSOE in the Cabildo along with the PP and Vox. Today, without a hint of embarrassment, she presents it as her own initiative at her insular congress. This is not leadership; it is political opportunism and a mockery of the public.”
These comments come after CC proposed a tourist tax exclusively for Tenerife on Tuesday, despite having repeatedly rejected the measure in Parliament. The most recent rejection occurred at the beginning of April. The last instance was in early April.
The secretary of CC in Tenerife, Francisco Linares, along with the island president, announced this proposal, detailing that it will be presented at the VI Insular Congress taking place this weekend on the island.
Meanwhile, Pedro Martín emphasised that the Canarian coalition explicitly dismissed this proposal during the plenary session: “It is shameful for Tenerife,” remarked the socialist leader.
Tamara Raya has also alleged that the Canary Coalition employs “a false environmentalism as it suits them, yet has never genuinely committed to a fair and sustainable tourism model.”
The Secretary General further noted, “They consistently reject PSOE proposals aimed at enhancing the working conditions within the tourism sector and safeguarding the environment.”
The PSOE of Tenerife pointed out that the party has put forward this initiative “on several occasions, the most recent being yesterday,” and that it even prompted the scheduling of an extraordinary plenary session of the Cabildo de Tenerife on June 7, 2024, during which Rosa Dávila questioned, “How can residents and non-residents be taxed on their drilling?”
This initiative was also part of a motion submitted by the socialist group to the Plenary of the Cabildo in April of the previous year.
Furthermore, this proposal was debated in the Parliament of the Canary Islands and was rejected on December 11, 2024, when the Canarian coalition, along with its governing partners, voted against the PSOE’s legislative proposal to introduce a tourist tax.
PSOE representatives stress that the proposed eco-tax is a mechanism for “social justice and sustainability.” As Pedro Martín noted, its implementation could generate “between 200 and 300 million euros annually to be allocated to improving public services, conserving the environment, and promoting a more balanced tourism model.”
“Now it seeks to present it afresh as if it were an innovation, but the facts tell a different story: she does not believe in what she professes and does not fulfil her promises,” concluded Pedro Martín.
PSOE representatives insist that the eco-tax they advocate is always a “serious, fair, and clear social return” instrument, aimed “entirely” at enhancing public services, preserving natural spaces, and enhancing the quality of life on the island.
