Tag: Catalunya

Latest Gran Canaria News, Views & Sunshine

The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 9-11 June 2023

 

A delightful second weekend of June ahead with all kinds of events to get involved with on Gran Canaria. The Harvest Fair arrives on the south, in El Tablero, patron saints’ fiestas in honour of San Antonio of Padua and San Pedro are happening around the island, Corpus Christi salt carpets and processions are held this Sunday, markets and music festivals as well as sporting events. Hopefully the weather will sustain all these wonderful festivities and happenings in the glorious outdoors, on which so much depends on this little island.

Menas Case: Foundation Siglo XXI directors allegedly filed false invoices, unrealistic expenses and repeatedly drew funds from ATMs, meant for the care of migrant children, even charging botox facial treatments and posh restaurant bills to foundation debit cards

A comprehensive analysis conducted by Group I of the Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) of the National Police yielded scandalous results, writes Spanish language daily Canarias7, regarding the alleged irregular use of the public funds intended for the care of unaccompanied minors, by the suspected to have been perpetrated by centres managed by the Foundation Social Response Siglo XXI on Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. In this case, driven by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, investigators discovered that the director of the Guiniguada centre charged the NGO responsible for €1,500 worth of beauty treatments and €1,113 for bills at top restaurants including Vinófilos, El Vasco de Vegueta, and Triciclo.

 
 

 

Centre-Right Pact Between Regionalists (CC) And Resident Conservatives (PPAV) Returns Marco Aurelio Perez As Southern Mayor

The conservative Partido Popular-Agrupación de Vecinos (PP-AV) and the right of centre regionalist Coalición Canaria (CC) have this Thursday signed a local government pact that will shape the future of the southern Gran Canaria tourism municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. The alliance, dubbed a “Pact for Stability and Socioeconomic Progress of San Bartolomé Tirajana”, represents 60% of the votes cast in the municipality’s recent local elections, emphasised the  mayor-elect, Marco Aurelio Pérez (PP-AV), who returns for the third time to lead the local council responsible for some of the most important tourism areas on the island, including Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés and San Agustín.

 
 

 

Local Government Coalition Agreement Maspalomas and the South of Gran Canaria

A governing coalition pact has been finalised in San Bartolomé de Tirajana. The Popular Party–Agrupación de Vecinos (PP-AV) conservative residents party is to join forces with regionalist centre-right Coalición Canaria (CC) to govern the main tourist municipality on Gran Canaria for the next four years. Marco Aurelio Pérez will serve as mayor for the entire four-year term, and the Popular Party will take charge of Employment, Sports, Roads and Infrastructure, and Human Resources, among other areas. The regionalists, led by Alejandro Marichal, will oversee Urban Planning, Economy and Finance, and Tourism as their main departments.

 
 

 

Storm Óscar Latest: Government of the Canary Islands Declares Rain Alert for Western Islands and Gran Canaria

A storm system, dubbed Óscar, has formed over the last few days over the mid-north Atlantic, unusual for this time of year, and has led to concern from meteorologists and journalists as it passes south of the Azores, its tail should reach The Canary Islands, before the system heads northeast towards mainland Spain.  Advisory warnings have been issued in expectation of heavy rainfall, primarily in the Western Isles of the Canary Islands Archipelago, though some rainfall is also expected to reach Gran Canaria over the next couple of days.  It seems unlikely that any major consequences will stem from the bad weather, however these things can be unpredictable and so every precaution is taken to ensure people are informed and kept safe.

 
 

 

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Clavijo: “The application of article 155 also does not fix the problem” 

The President of the Autonomous Canary Islands Government, Fernando Clavijo, has this week called for dialogue and peace, as well as reform to the Spanish Constitution because, in his opinion, the application of Article 155 “neither fixes the problem” nor can it be ignored that there are more than two million Catalans who want independence from Spain.
The Autonomous Government of Catalunya, The Generalitat, attempted to hold a long-time promised referendum on October 1st regarding a question of the region’s continuation as a part of modern Spain.  The Spanish government, in Madrid, not only refused dialogue but attempted to brutally put down attempts to vote on the question of Catalunyan independence, sending thousands of extra national police and Guardia Civil to close polling stations.  Despite most unity supporters staying away, more than 2 million Catalans voted overwhelmingly in favour of secession from Spain and an independent future.  Those voting in favour of independence represented just under 50% of the electorate, or a third of the total population of the region.
Fernando Clavijo told journalists that after being made aware of the willingness of the President of Catalunya’s Generalitat, Carles Puigdmont, to declare independence in a new plenary session, he is “deeply concerned” because he feels there is no clear reason to justify the decision.
“We have been talking about dialogue, understanding, calm and openness [toward] the amendment of the Constitution to be better accommodated within the State, and we did not expect a response of this caliber,” said the Canarian president.
With regards to the implementation of article 155, he said that it’s degree of application should be evaluated, as to the length of time applied, and considers that it is anyone’s desire to have to apply it or interfere in an Autonomous Community, although the State obviously has to articulate the resources at its disposal to defend itself.
Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, of 1978, provides the state government in Madrid powers to suspend autonomous regional rule, if it is deemed necessary to protect the constitution and the laws of Spain.  One government minister last year, when questions, described it as “the nuclear option”.
The Canary Islands will defend moderation, proportionality and common sense in this area, Clavijo added, since the applying article 155 of the Spanish Constitution does not fix the problem “nor can we ignore that there are more than two million Catalans who want to be independent and that cannot be addressed through the application of the rule, that has to be addressed through dialogue, pedagogy and tranquility.”
“These are the challenges of historic moments that make all the difference and there is a need to separate politics, acting responsibly and include many doses of effort and peace,” he said.
Source: La Provincia

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