Canary Islands Government Defends Over‑Spending on Volcano Recovery Amid Opposition Scrutiny

Canary Islands Finance Minister Matilde Asián said the regional government spent €444 million above the fiscal‑spending limit in 2024, arguing the excess was needed for urgent needs such as more than €200 million for La Palma volcano reconstruction, care for unaccompanied minors and court‑ordered payments. She criticised the PSOE and Nueva Canarias for preferring bank debt repayment over public services, noting the islands retain an A+ credit rating from Standard & Poor’s.

In the municipality of El Paso, the local PSOE demanded that the Coalición Canaria explain a €1 million land purchase for the National Center of Volcanology, where a geological fault made the first site unusable.

Meanwhile, the Popular Party of Pájara urged the municipal government to provide an alternative training field for the Club de Bola Canaria de Morro Jable after park renovations left the club without a pitch.