The deputy spokesman of the Popular Party in Congress, José Vicente Marí Bosó, has accused the central government of “deceiving the people of Ibiza” after the serious floods registered in Ibiza last September 30, by considering that the compensations processed by the Insurance Compensation Consortium are State aid.
According to the popular deputy, this compensation does not represent any kind of public aid, but rather a return to policyholders of the funds they have been contributing through their insurance premiums over time.
“The Insurance Compensation Consortium is only indemnifying as if it were just another insurance. With the premiums they have paid over the years, they are compensating and covering the damages,” Marí Bosó told La Voz de Ibiza.
What about the catastrophe zone for Ibiza?
Marí Bosó explained that in order for the Spanish Government to be able to offer extraordinary aid to those affected, it is essential that the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Finance bring the declaration of catastrophe zone to the Council of Ministers.
“The government here has not processed anything. The Government here has not declared the catastrophic zone, which is what would enable it to be able to agree on aid,” he pointed out. “Because what is being paid now by the Insurance Compensation Consortium is not any aid,” he insisted.
“It is simply returning the money to the insured that they have been paying for many years. Therefore, the government is deceiving the Ibizans,” he blasted the administration of Pedro Sanchez.
The deputy denounced that the government’s response has been very different from that applied in other recent catastrophes: “40 days ago of the torrential rains. In the Dana of Valencia the catastrophic zone was agreed after six days. In this summer’s fires, the declaration of a catastrophic zone was also agreed practically ten days later. And here we are and nobody from the government has said anything“.
In this sense, Marí Bosó questioned the attitude of the Government and the Government delegate in the Balearic Islands.
“The government delegate has not been heard to say, ‘Yes, we are going to declare the catastrophe zone.’ No Socialist has been heard to say: ‘Yes, our government, Pedro Sánchez, is going to declare the catastrophe zone’,” he said.
A different position
The popular parliamentarian pointed out that the only administration that has committed aid so far has been the Balearic Government, presided by Marga Prohens, together with the Consell de Ibiza and the town councils.
“Here the only one who has committed money and aid is the Government of the Balearic Islands, Marga Prohens, along with the Consell and municipalities. But the Government of Spain is still lacking,” he lamented.
Direct criticism of Senator Juanjo Ferrer
In a message posted on social networks, Marí Bosó lashed out at the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, the PSOE and the senator for Ibiza and Formentera, Juanjo Ferrer,
“It is a shame. The socialists, Sánchez and the collaborationist senator of @EiFAlSenat (Juanjo Ferrer) treat us as second division and lie to our faces. The insurance compensation consortium is paid by you with your premiums and it is no help, they give you your money back,” he wrote on his account.
The news that unleashed Marí Bosó’s anger
These criticisms follow statements by the Minister of Economy, Carlos Cuerpo, who this week informed the Senate that the Consortium has received 3,933 applications, of which 20% have been processed.
“We are reinforcing the technical teams and prioritizing the cases of the most affected homes and businesses,” assured the minister, who added that those affected in Ibiza “will not have to wait months” to be compensated.
Specifically, 1,200 applications have been received for damage to homes, 552 from businesses and some 1,500 for vehicles, in addition to others referring to industries and homeowners’ associations.
“In the 114 most complex cases, partial payments have already been advanced in order to avoid delays in economic coverage,” said Cuerpo, who also indicated that it is expected to have more than 80% of the files processed in the next quarter.
Following this, Marí Bosó stressed that the Insurance Compensation Consortium acts only in those cases in which the affected parties have taken out policies, and that in reality there is no direct state contribution to compensation.
“Because a part of the premiums of these other insurances is destined to finance this consortium, so that when a catastrophe occurs and it has to compensate damages, it has the funds to do so”.
