The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, denied any change in the Canarian government's position on the Sahara issue. He emphasized that the Canary Islands government does not have authority over foreign policy and thus adheres to decisions made by the Spanish government in this regard.
His statement was made in response to criticism from NC-BC spokesperson Luis Campos, who accused Clavijo of betrayal after he expressed support for the Spanish government's policy on the Sahara during a recent visit to Morocco.
Campos stated, «What you did [in Morocco] is a historic betrayal of the brotherly Sahrawi people, of the historic positions of the Parliament, of the local councils, of the 88 municipalities, of all the governments of the Canary Islands throughout its history». He went on to claim that it was a betrayal of human rights, international law, and the right to self-determination for all peoples.
In response, Clavijo reiterated that in a democratic country, «there is order and rules, and everyone has their own prerogatives», stressing that the Canary Islands government must respect the legal framework that defines foreign policy. He criticized Campos for delivering what he called «exaggerated speeches» in parliament.
During his visit to Morocco on October 8, Clavijo had stated, «We discussed with Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita the Sahara issue. The government of the Canary Islands fully adopts the policy of the Spanish government, it could not be otherwise. This [support] has created a climate of trust and cooperation that we want to strengthen, as we agreed today with the minister».