The Secretary General of PSOE Canarias and Minister, Ángel Víctor Torres, has sharply criticised the regional government led by Coalición Canaria (CC) and Partido Popular (PP), alleging a lack of “coherence” and a failure to address the real needs of citizens concerning housing, education, and social services. These statements were made during a meeting with Socialist public officials in the Tenerife municipality of La Laguna.
Torres asserted that the challenges faced by Canarian society cannot be resolved through “propaganda or empty announcements,” but rather through “effective public policies.” In this regard, he condemned the current regional government for “saying one thing and doing the opposite,” highlighting a regression in the achievements of the previous legislature when he himself led the regional government.
Education Concerns
In the education sector, the Socialist leader expressed regret that the over 2,000 early education places for children aged 0 to 3, planned by his government, have not been realised, adversely affecting many families. He also denounced the disruption of the funding plan with public universities and the rise in school dropout rates, which had previously declined in recent years. “We cannot go back on educational policies because what is at stake is the future of Canarias,” he declared.
Social Services
Regarding social services, Torres highlighted the €2 billion increase in investment during his tenure, particularly in dependency policies—an effort he claims has been abandoned by the current government. “We have regressed to announcements and propaganda while many families continue to await a response,” he stated.
Housing Crisis
Housing was identified by Torres as the “most immediate urgency” and a clear example of the current government’s inaction. He criticised that there have been “not a single house” delivered by the Canarian Executive so far in this legislative period. He warned about the high rental prices, which have forced some teachers to resign from their positions or live in caravans. To resolve this crisis, Torres advocated for the approval of pressured housing areas and the implementation of effective measures, taking cues from other communities like Catalonia.
Tourist Tax Proposal
Additionally, he called for the introduction of a tourist tax, which he deemed “fair” and would enable the “over 18 million visitors that Canarias receives to contribute to improving our infrastructure, protecting the environment, and strengthening public services.”
Political Incoherence
In his critique, Torres did not shy away from addressing the “double standards” of Coalición Canaria. “It is not credible to claim that Vox is a fascist party while simultaneously negotiating with them in municipalities such as Teguise, Granadilla, or Arona,” he stated, reiterating the commitment of the PSOE: “We will never govern with Vox in Canarias. We are consistent and we uphold that.”
The Socialist leader also referred to the promise made by CC and PP to cut the IGIC by two points, labelling it “the biggest electoral deception in recent years, as they will not fulfil it throughout the entire legislative period.”
“The PSOE is the responsible alternative that Canarias needs”
In conclusion, Ángel Víctor Torres championed the strength of the PSOE, emphasising that it is “the party that won the regional elections, the one with the most mayors, and the only one with parliamentary representation on all the islands.”
The Socialist secretary general stressed that his organisation will mount a “firm and constructive opposition,” focused on defending equality, social equity, and public policies that benefit the majority of Canarian society.
Torres finished his address with a clear message: “Canarias needs coherence, responsibility, and real solutions, not empty announcements. And that is where the Socialist Party will continue to be, with proposals and hard work,” he concluded.
