Augusto Hidalgo, spokesperson for the PSOE and first vice-president of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, highlighted the island government's management in housing and dependency, and defended the political stability of the pact with Nueva Canarias over the last eleven years.
The opposition, represented by Vox, Coalición Canaria, and the Partido Popular, focused their criticism on housing and social care management areas, overseen by Hidalgo and socialist councilor Isabel Mena.
Hidalgo reiterated that the Cabildo de Gran Canaria is the only island corporation in the Archipelago currently creating new social care places and delivering protected housing, despite the latter not being a core competency of the island institution.
According to the socialist spokesperson, the Cabildo has opened or plans to open six new residential centers for dependent individuals, adding 857 places, and has incorporated an additional 80,000 hours of home help. Furthermore, 79 public housing units are slated for delivery before the end of the term, with agreements for approximately 400 more and over 2,000 rehabilitation projects.
The socialist leader also countered that many opposition criticisms exceed the Cabildo's responsibilities, noting that proposals from the Partido Popular fall under the purview of the Government of Canarias, while those from Coalición Canaria relate to municipal competencies. He criticized Vox for spreading "falsehoods" regarding insecurity and immigration.
Hidalgo defended the island government's management based on four pillars: political stability, capacity for consensus, citizen support, and positive economic and employment trends. He emphasized the government's stability and consensus on key projects like the Salto de Chira hydroelectric plant and the tourism model.
He also linked the current government's continuity to the citizen support received in three consecutive elections and poll results indicating that only 27% of respondents hold a negative view of the executive.
Economically, he noted that unemployment in Gran Canaria decreased by 6.14% over the past year, exceeding the regional average, and that tourism generated 6.3 billion euros, a 4.35% increase from the previous year, with 4.8 million visitors.
