The Minister of Finance and European Union Relations for the Canary Islands Government, Matilde Asián, has assessed the recent approval in the Council of Ministers of the updated advance payments for the autonomous communities. However, she deeply regretted that this announcement comes with a six-month delay, a situation that, according to the minister, has been repeated in previous years.

Asián stated in a press release that "once again, the ministry's lack of consideration for the autonomous communities and local corporations is reiterated." She emphasized that these funds are "fundamental to the overall calculation of our budgets" and that their retention by the Spanish Government, without apparent justification, causes significant distortions.

The minister explained that this concerns money already collected through ceded taxes, which should be transferred at the beginning of the year. "Instead of transferring it, the State has benefited from income that belonged to the autonomous communities and local corporations, achieving financial profitability that has only benefited the State, and which has complicated the management of regional and municipal institutions," she affirmed.

Asián recalled that the advance payments had already been communicated and presented to Parliament in laws that included other matters. Nevertheless, the "central government's inability to achieve a sufficient majority" prevented their approval at the time.

Finally, the minister expressed her confidence that the ministry will expedite the procedures so that these funds can begin to be paid "as soon as possible," with the aim of "not continuing to harm the public accounts of communities and corporations."