Ángel Víctor Torres, the secretary general of PSOE Canarias, has called on the Coalition Government of Canary Islands and the Popular Party to find a "consensual solution" regarding the residential use of properties in tourist areas. His remarks followed a meeting with Maribe Doreste, president of the Platform of Affected by the Tourism Law (PALT), alongside the socialist deputy spokesperson, Elena Máñez.
During the meeting, Torres committed to addressing the platform's request for a meeting with the Minister of Housing, Isabel Rodríguez. He emphasised that the right to housing should be central to any institutional response, noting that "at least 70,000 people are affected, families who simply want to live in their homes and continue their lives as they have for years."
Torres expressed astonishment that the current Canary Islands Government ignored a popular legislative initiative supported by over 20,000 signatures, justifying it by claiming a tourism law would be approved. He lamented, "Neither a tourism law has been passed, nor will there be one." He reminded that the Socialist Parliamentary Group has proposed several initiatives to tackle this issue, but the PP and CC have voted against them without engaging with the core of the matter.
Regarding the possibility of the Government pushing a decree law as a solution to the conflict, Torres warned, "If it is not consensual, if it is not agreed upon with the platform and political groups, it should not be taken to the Parliament of the Canary Islands. This matter must be approached through consensus."
While acknowledging the importance of tourism for the Canary Islands, he rejected the notion that its protection should come at the expense of residents' homes. "It cannot be at the cost of housing, nor at the expense of the well-being of the people of the Canary Islands," he stated. He also questioned the fines imposed on affected individuals, attributing them to the current Minister of Tourism, Jessica de León, of the Popular Party. "In the previous government, which I had the honour of leading, no fines were issued; all have been signed in this legislature," he asserted.
Torres reiterated his party's willingness to seek a shared solution, stating, "We extend our hand for dialogue, consensus, and agreement."
