PP Accuses PSOE of Blocking Congressional-Senatorial Commission on Insularity

In a significant development that has sparked tension between political parties in Spain, the People's Party (PP) has accused the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) of deliberately blocking the activities of the Mixed Commission of the Congress and Senate on Insularity. This commission, crucial for addressing the unique challenges faced by the island territories of Spain, has been at the center of a heated political dispute.

The Accusations

Carlos Sánchez, a PP deputy from the province of Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, has been vocal about the alleged paralysis of the commission. According to Sánchez, the commission has only met twice in the past year, despite the urgency and importance of the issues it is supposed to address. He emphasized that the commission's primary role is to give voice to the problems faced by the extrapeninsular territories, including the Canary and Balearic Islands.

Sánchez criticized the PSOE for what he described as a deliberate blockage, stating that the socialists do not want the issues affecting the islands to be discussed in Madrid. "Canarias remains absent from the agenda of priorities of the socialists, they keep us in the drawer of oblivion, an unacceptable positioning that extends to this Commission," he said.

Key Issues Affected

The Mixed Commission on Insularity was established to tackle critical issues such as transportation, connectivity, taxation, financing, housing shortages, and irregular immigration. However, according to Sánchez, the PSOE's lack of willingness to convene the commission has hindered any meaningful discussion or resolution of these problems.

The deputy also highlighted the ongoing migration crisis in the Canary Islands, expressing his disappointment at the socialists' insensitivity towards this issue and their failure to bring effective solutions to the table. "This Commission should be an essential framework for this, but there is no intention on the part of the socialists," Sánchez noted.

Pending Initiatives

Sánchez pointed out that there are over twenty pending initiatives, including motions, appearances, and questions, which are awaiting discussion. He argued that this volume of material is more than sufficient to justify convening the commission multiple times. However, the president of the commission, who is from the PSOE and has the sole authority to convene meetings, has allegedly ignored these needs.

Future Actions

In response to this impasse, the PP has announced plans to force the convocation of the Mixed Commission on Insularity using all available means. This move is aimed at ensuring that the problems faced by the Canary and Balearic Islands are heard and addressed at the national level.

The standoff between the PP and PSOE over the commission highlights the deep-seated political divisions and the challenges faced by Spain's island territories in getting their voices heard in the national political arena. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how this will impact the governance and well-being of these regions.