From March 10 to 12, the Parlamento de Canarias is holding its annual Debate on the State of the Canarian Nationality — the most important political debate in the Canary Islands' calendar. President Fernando Clavijo (Coalición Canaria) opened the three-day session with a surprising anti-war declaration on the Iran conflict and presented ten concrete commitments for the remainder of the legislative term. For residents and business owners on Gran Canaria, in Maspalomas and the south of the island, the decisions are directly relevant. This is part of CITA News' coverage of political developments in the Canary Islands.
Anti-War Declaration: Clavijo Surprises Parliament
Rather than opening with the customary accountability report, Clavijo began his speech with a clear stance against the war in the Middle East. The Canary Islands as an EU outermost region are directly affected by the economic consequences — rising fuel prices, more expensive maritime shipping, uncertainty for tourism. The president announced he would convene all party leaders next week to jointly develop measures against the economic impact of the Iran war on the archipelago. Vice President Manuel Domínguez is already working on concrete proposals.
Ten Pledges for the Remaining Legislative Term
Clavijo concluded his opening speech with a ten-point programme. The pledges cover areas directly relevant to daily life on Gran Canaria — from housing construction and transport to bureaucratic reform. Three years of economic growth above the Spanish average and historically low unemployment in municipalities like Maspalomas formed the basis of his assessment.
The 10 Pledges at a Glance
1. Self-Employed & Work-Life Balance: Programa Concilia + Programa +uno52 (hiring bonus for over-52s)
2. Less Bureaucracy: Administrative Simplification Plan — one single portal for all government procedures
3. More Housing: Over 4,000 homes in planning/construction, priority for residents
4. Free Transport: Expansion of free public transport services
5. Education: Investment in school infrastructure and early childhood education
6. Care & Dependency: Faster processing of care applications
7. Tourism Reform: Quality model instead of mass tourism, new Tourism Law
8. Green REF: Tax incentives (RIC, ZEC, IGIC) targeted at sustainability and renewables
9. Demographic Strategy: "15-Minute Canarias" — basic services within walking distance
10. New FEDECAN: Ten-year investment plan with island councils and municipalities
Decreto Canarias and EU Funding: The Strategic Issues
Behind the everyday issues lie two strategic questions that will determine the archipelago's future: The Decreto Canarias aims to strengthen Canarian autonomy, and the EU financial framework must secure the status as an Outermost Region (RUP). Clavijo warned that the EU is increasingly disregarding the specificities of outermost regions — "this is about our very existence," he told parliament. Debt relief from Madrid and reform of autonomous community financing are also on the agenda.
What Does This Mean for Southern Gran Canaria?
For Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés and San Bartolomé de Tirajana, three points are particularly relevant: The tourism reform with new holiday rental regulations directly affects thousands of property owners. The housing construction focus with priority for residents could ease the tight rental market. And the announced measures against the Iran crisis aim to prevent rising transport costs from further driving up living costs and tourism prices in the south. Today, on the final day of debate, the parliamentary groups vote on the submitted resolution proposals.
Thursday March 12 is the final day of debate — parliamentary groups vote on resolutions. Next week, the announced meeting of all party leaders on Iran measures will follow. CITA News continues to monitor developments and report on the concrete impact on Gran Canaria and the south of the island.