The political party argues that International Solidarity aid should focus on specific development cooperation projects, rather than financially supporting the administrative structure of another territory. This criticism follows an announcement made in the Plenary Commission by a counselor for Institutional Cooperation and International Solidarity, who confirmed the Cabildo's intention to provide this assistance.
According to the Popular Group, the island government, formed by NC and PSOE, aims to consolidate a similar subsidy in its annual budget to the 1.5 million euros exceptionally granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Spanish Government in 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This aid would fund a project titled 'Sustainability of public services in Sahrawi camps: technical, educational, health, and other essential public services support'.
“"The Cabildo, as an island government, has among its objectives the balanced development of the island, ensuring that all citizens can count on quality public services and infrastructure, but paying salary supplements to officials from other territories while Gran Canarians lose purchasing power every day is in no way among its competencies."
The PP clarifies that it does not question aid to the Sahrawi people, which accounts for almost a third of the total budget for International Solidarity. However, it insists that these funds should be allocated to concrete development projects and not to the financial maintenance of another administration. A significant portion of this subsidy is used to pay bonuses to officials, which can reach up to 895.85 euros quarterly for a provincial general secretary, according to the justification for the 2022 subsidy.
Furthermore, the Popular Group criticizes the island government for allocating more resources to the International Solidarity area, with a budget of 8.9 million euros last year, than to departments like Education or Youth, which receive barely 6 million. The Housing Consortium, responsible for addressing one of the main problems faced by Gran Canaria residents, has a budget of 9.2 million, only 300,000 euros more than what the Cabildo spent in 2025 on cooperation projects outside the island.
In light of this situation, the Popular Group urges the island government to give the same political and budgetary priority to combating unemployment, poverty, and other severe social problems affecting Gran Canaria, where 41% of children live in conditions of vulnerability and social exclusion.
