The finalization of the Socialist Party’s (PSOE) entrance into the local administration of Icod de los Vinos, Tenerife, is underway. Ever since the elections in May of last year, Icodense Alternative, a political group led by the former socialist, Javier Sierra, has governed independently and with a tenuous minority, having secured eight councilors in the elections. As per sources from both parties, it is highly likely that they will soon join forces with two PSOE councilors, Soledad Palenzuela and Gerardo Rizo.
The partnership will not be adequate to form a majority governing body. Through the imminent pact, Alternativa Icodense and PSOE will have a combined 10 councilors, falling short of the required 11 for a majority. However, this agreement will provide more stability to Sierra, the youngest mayor in Tenerife at 33 years old, in steering the Consistory. Sierra, holding the position of leader of Alternativa Icodense, has been in office for the past eight months under constant threat of a censure motion from the opposition, which could materialize by aligning with the 7 councilors from CC and the 4 from the PP.
However, everything changed on November 27th when PP councilor José María Polegre tendered his resignation from the popular group and became unaffiliated. Without Polegre’s support, the prospect of CC and PP gaining a majority via a censure attempt seems unlikely at present. Hence, the impending alliance with the PSOE will bring more certainty to the mayor, temporarily quashing the threat of a censure motion.
Sierra, who previously served as a councilor for Culture, Festivals, and Citizen Participation in the Icod de los Vinos City Council for the PSOE, narrowly missed out on becoming the general secretary of the Icod de los Vinos socialists in 2018. A few months later, he was in the running as a socialist candidate for Mayor. However, failing to achieve this, he officially requested to leave the progressive party and establish another group, Alternativa Icodense, with which he contested the election. His emergence outside the PSOE was remarkable, winning 5 councilors in the 2019 elections and later securing 8 councilors and assuming the Mayor’s office in May 2023. With the pending inclusion of the two PSOE councilors, he will soon have more leeway in governing. It remains to be seen whether this is the onset of Sierra’s reintegration into the socialist party following his significant political influence in Icod de los Vinos.
His departure from the PSOE was a prominent move. Even with little time to prepare, he garnered over 2,500 votes and won 5 councilors with Alternativa in the 2019 elections. Four years later, in May 2023, he increased the councilors to 8 and took over the Mayor’s Office. As the two PSOE councilors are set to join, he will soon wield more authority. The outcome will determine if this marks the start of Sierra’s return to the socialist party, following the confirmation of his considerable political prowess in Icod de los Vinos.
