Contentious Loans Worth Almost a Million Euros in the Festivals Area Rattle the Progressive Agreement in Puerto de la Cruz



Following four years of governance amidst a pandemic and plummeting tourism in a city that pioneered mass tourism in the Canary Islands since the 1960s and has since regained strength in the subsector and economy overall, the two coalition partners in the government of Puerto de la Cruz, the primary driving force in northern Tenerife, came to a near disagreement after the May elections. They postponed discussions until the day before the new council’s inaugural session, and in Monday afternoon’s session, the strained relations between the two parties (the PSOE, with 10 councillors – up from 8, holding just 14 votes of the absolute majority out of 28M-, and the Portuense Citizen Assembly -ACP-, which decreased from 3 to 2 councillors) have spilled over into differing votes on key resolutions.

That is, at least, the prevailing sentiment among a significant portion of the PSOE following the abstention of the two ACP councillors in two extrajudicial credit recognitions (totaling 687,000 and 255,000 euros) linked to Festivals (primarily involving neighborhood celebrations). These expenses were ultimately approved solely by the ten socialist councillors, as the seven from the PP and the two from CC opposed. In fact, if a socialist councillor had not shown up to vote (which she eventually did), the mayor, Marco González, would have had to resort to his casting vote for the recognitions to proceed in order to settle outstanding invoices with numerous companies, as it would have resulted in a 9-9 tie. The controversy surrounding these expenses prompted the PP to threaten involving the Prosecutor’s Office.

The strained relations between the PSOE and ACP are no secret in the tourism-driven city, although they are more rooted in personal dynamics than party politics. Socialist sources consulted by Canarias Now attribute the situation primarily to the spokesperson and ACP leader, David Hernández, rather than other Assembly members or the party itself (assembly and the left of social democracy), its affiliates, and voters. With the exception of the councillor Alberto Cabo (“Tito”), who oversees Sports, Health, Consumer Affairs, and Beaches among other departments, differences primarily lie with Hernández’s methods of leadership, causing friction during the previous term despite maintaining and renewing the coalition.

However, over the initial ten months of the new government, tensions have escalated (particularly over expenditures in PSOE sectors and notably in the Festivals area), sparking speculation and alternative scenarios. The most critical moment unfolded during Monday’s council session when the two APC councillors abstained on items 10 and 11. While the mayor downplays its significance and favors continuing the coalition, some PSOE sources have deemed continuing with Hernández as a partner very challenging, if not impossible, following the session, according to Canarias Ahora. Hernández, conversely, believes deep ideological differences with local PSOE leaders are not insurmountable to continued co-governance.

Within the APC, an awareness of these circumstances prevails. Sources from the party have indicated to this newspaper that they do not intend to dissolve the coalition. They stress the lack of voting discipline in every resolution within the agreement, the distinct party identities, and their reservations regarding the specific recognitions in question. Nevertheless, their abstention enabled the PSOE to carry through with the approvals.

These APC sources acknowledge the government will persist, despite turbulence within the socialist ranks, indicating they will leave the decision to disband in the PSOE’s hands. Recognizing the mayor’s reluctance to take such action, they affirm they will never align with a vote of no-confidence alongside the PP and CC, at least without assembly support (a remote possibility, although not inconceivable). They assert full party support for spokesperson David Hernández and do not rule out the potential for a PSOE minority government.

Emulating the La Laguna Scenario

Furthermore, within the ACP, concerns linger that the socialists may pursue stability assurances at senior party levels in the Canary Islands in partnership with CC. Of the two nationalist councillors in Puerto, one (Diego Moreno Padrón) adamantly opposes aligning with the PSOE (a pact unprecedented in the Port yet evidenced in other significant municipalities such as La Laguna currently, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife from 2011 to 2015), while the other (Alonso Dionisio Acevedo) harbors uncertainties, cognizant of potential implications for his party in forthcoming elections.

Conversely, consulted socialist sources are open to various outcomes, acknowledging the severity of the situation and looming consequences, anticipating an impending decision within the party.