The Canarian president studies resorting to indebtedness and the reorganization of European funds
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, March 8. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, has ruled out this Tuesday lowering taxes, as proposed by the Canary Coalition, to deal with the rise in prices derived from inflation and the war in Ukraine given that it could “put at risk” the benefit of public services.
In response to questions from the Nationalist and ASG groups, he reminded the president of the CC-PNC, Pablo Rodríguez, that the Socialists supported the rise in the IGIC in the previous crisis and appealed not to make mistakes with the measures because it is necessary to preserve resources so that basic services “are exemplary”.
The president has put on the table the possibility of resorting to borrowing or reordering European funds to mitigate the effects of the war and has confirmed that he will convene the signatory groups of the ‘Reactive Plan’ to agree on decision-making.
Torres has indicated that “the first objective” is to save lives in Ukraine and in that sense, he has affirmed that the boy from Gran Canaria and his Ukrainian mother are crossing the country on their way to the border to travel to the islands.
He has indicated, according to what was stated this Monday in the Advisory Council, that the economic relationship of the Canary Islands with the two countries is not very direct, since the islands receive less than 100,000 tourists a year, only 11 companies operate in those markets and the Canary Islands do not supplies with the Ukrainian grain.
However, he has commented that there is an indirect effect due to the rise in energy prices and the consequences that the Russian gas cutoff could have in Germany, which covers 60% of its electricity demand.
“You have to be prepared, but the important thing is that the invasion and the war end,” he said.
RODRIGUEZ: TORRES CANNOT BE A “COMMENTATOR”
The ASG spokesman, Casimiro Curbelo, has assumed the “serious impact” that the war in Ukraine will generate on the economy, which also “endangers” the economic recovery and the way out of the crisis after the health pandemic.
He pointed out that inflation was already on the rise due to the increase in the prices of electricity, fuel, raw materials and logistics “and now the war increases all these variables” which “will have repercussions” on consumption and employment.
He has pointed out that Ukraine “is the granary of Europe” in the production of cereals and also “the pantry” of gas and has called for “taking measures” in anticipation that the war will drag on over time.
Pablo Rodríguez has commented that there is an “unsustainable rise in electricity, bread and fuel” and missed taking measures because the increase in prices affects the welfare state by affecting the purchasing power of families.
He has said that the situation “cannot wait” and Torres “must lead” decision-making and not be a mere “commentator” on the situation. “It cannot be a slow government”, he has commented.
