Four socialist MPs representing Lanzarote and La Graciosa have condemned what they see as unfair treatment of Lanzarote in the 2027 Canary Islands Budget proposal presented to the regional parliament.
The MPs—Marcos Bergaz, Alicia Pérez, Marcos Hernández, and Lucía Olga Tejera—criticised the government for failing to distribute the record budget of €13.209 billion equitably. They claim Lanzarote is again placed fifth in investment allocation, receiving €90.1 million, despite being the third-most populated island in the archipelago.
Bergaz pointed out that despite the government’s claims of record-high budgets, this growth has not resulted in balanced investment. He urged for a fairer distribution, especially as Lanzarote falls behind islands such as Fuerteventura, which will receive €110.2 million, and La Palma, which will get €102.6 million.
In contrast, Gran Canaria and Tenerife are set to receive substantially more—€249.2 million and €261.7 million respectively. Smaller islands like La Gomera and El Hierro will receive €74.6 million and €44.6 million, while La Graciosa is allocated €1.9 million.
When combining funds for Lanzarote and La Graciosa, the total rises to €92 million, still trailing behind the sums earmarked for Fuerteventura and La Palma. The MPs state that the disparity warrants an explanation from the Canary Islands Government.
Among the key projects funded for Lanzarote are €5.1 million for the duplication of the LZ-40 road and €2.7 million for expanding the Costa Teguise health centre, though works on both are yet to commence. There remains no specific funding for the island’s main hospital or the Playa Honda health centre.
Additional funding includes €3 million for water storage facilities and €850,000 for a new school in Costa Teguise. While MPs noted the inclusion of the requested funding for the school as a positive step, they emphasised the need for action rather than mere announcements.
Bergaz stressed the importance of progressing with projects that lack funding and called on the government to ensure needed works are prioritised.
The Socialist Group has pledged to propose amendments during the budget’s parliamentary process to rectify what they consider an unfair allocation of resources for Lanzarote and La Graciosa. They demand that the growth in the budget leads to increased investment in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and water supply for both islands.
