SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 22nd March (EUROPA PRESS) –
The president of the Canary Islands and national secretary general of the Canary Coalition, Fernando Clavijo, has defended his party’s decision to support the disapproval of the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres. Clavijo also pointed out that it was the Socialist Party that failed, in 2018, to the then Minister of Social Policies, Employment and Housing, Cristina Valido, marking the first failure in history in the Canary Islands.
In statements to the media, Clavijo responded to the minister’s remarks made moments before, stating that it is the nationalists who must provide an explanation for their support. He emphasised that “it cannot be said that we support avoiding judicializing political and public life and then approve a disapproval of a political party [referring to the PP] that protects, supports and defends the president of the Community of Madrid. They are the ones who need to clarify,” he reiterated.
Regarding the attempts to separate some parts of the motion’s paragraphs, Clavijo explained that the Canarian Coalition tried to do so, but the Popular Party “refused to move or allow voting on separate points.” Eventually, taking into account CC’s belief in the separation of powers, Cristina Valido eventually voted in favour of the disapproval as proposed.
Clavijo stressed their readiness to engage in dialogue and negotiation, aiming to avoid the media and political spectacle currently unfolding. He underscored the importance of providing political explanations and taking responsibility in forums such as Congress, Parliament, Senate, while judicial matters are left to be investigated independently and calmly by the justice system.
When asked whether nationalist support might strain relations with PSOE, Fernando Clavijo dismissed such concerns, highlighting that Cristina Valido was previously failed by the Socialist Party in the Parliament of the Canary Islands, making her the only councillor to face such a situation in history. “A disapproval is a political action, it belongs to the political sphere. Judicialization of political life is a different matter, where legal processes are involved,” stated the President of the Canary Islands, who commended the conduct of the Government of the Canary Islands and the Canarian Coalition as “entirely exemplary” in this regard.
