The trio leading the parties in the City Council of Puerto de la Cruz, who tabled a vote of no confidence against Marco González, the socialist mayor since 2019, stated on Friday morning that the action taken goes beyond ideologies. They have worked on it extensively for months, basing it on firm grounds and asserting that it is irrevocable, as emphasised by Alonso Dionisio Acevedo (CC). This councillor also reiterated that the party has regional and island-level support, is confident that the agreement will result in a change of government and refutes any possibility of reversal, despite the discussions held by Fernando Clavijo and Ángel Víctor Torres to explore alternative solutions to potential repercussions in cities like La Laguna, where the PSOE co-governs with CC.
As disclosed on Thursday, the allocation of responsibilities agreed upon by the new partners in El Puerto places the PP in charge of overseeing General Administration, Internal Affairs, and Police, which, as mentioned, may fall under the purview of the prospective new mayor, Leopoldo Afonso. Additionally, the conservatives will manage Finance, Public Procurement, Heritage, Human Resources, as well as Tourism, Cultural Promotion, Social Services, Education, Youth, and Animal Welfare. They will also oversee the Costa Martiánez Complex, Beaches, Public Parking, Cemetery, Archaeological Museum, along with Festivals, Market, Technological Development, and Services for Children, Seniors, and the Disabled.
On the other hand, CC will be heading General Services, Commercial Development, Commerce, Industry, and the Primary Sector, while ACP will take on its existing departments (Sustainable City, Public Participation, Employment, Sports, Health Promotion, among others), in addition to adding Equality and LGTBI+ issues.
During the press conference held at the Tigaiga Hotel, the three parties emphasised that this is an “urgent” political agreement in favour of Puerto de la Cruz given the current state of “disastrous governance” by the PSOE, which includes pollution, deficient services, cleanliness issues, problems at school playgrounds, insufficient resources for the Local Police, and other instances of mismanagement, as highlighted by Leopoldo Afonso at the outset of the event.
“I appreciate the ACP and PP for taking this bold move, a commitment to all our residents, striving together, regardless of political affiliations, to propel the Port forward and recover the golden era that we once enjoyed but which Marco González has been instrumental in destroying and plunging into darkness,” stated the current leader of the local PP. Positioned amidst the other two spokespersons, a position later assumed by Hernández and Acevedo, the brother of the island’s vice-president, Lope Afonso, emphasised that “the PP is a credible, conscientious party, devoted to public services, and dedicated to rejuvenating municipalities like the Port, which have suffered due to González and the PSOE’s mismanagement.”
Subsequently, in the most extensive and politically charged address, David Hernández (ACP) highlighted that the PSOE has not implemented “a singular left-leaning policy in the Port since 2019 and if anyone knows of one, do enlighten us, as we have been here.” He reiterated that the ACP remains the leftist faction in this new agreement. According to him, the socialist party’s demand to revise the agreement with a clause compelling both partners to vote the same way during plenary sessions has been a critical factor in their rift, as “it leads us to the conclusion that they do not respect democracy.” This demand was made after the ACP abstained from two credit adjustments totalling nearly one million Euros for the Festivals sector during the plenary session at the end of April.
Hernández reiterated the points raised on Thursday and expressed gratitude to the PP and CC for “the most crucial aspect of the agreement, in the Assembly’s view: they have adhered, point by point, word for word, to the agreement signed with the PSOE in June 2023. We will continue with the same policies, as it should be. We have signed a document outlining the main commitments made regarding the issues and priorities neglected by the municipality. Our aim is to continue progressing on the initiatives commenced this year, and this new pact will permit it, as it is primarily democratic and urgent. It transcends ideologies and parties, concentrating on the needs of Puerto de la Cruz residents.”
Key aspects and highlights of the government pact
Over the following days, the three political parties will release the formalised agreement (around twenty pages in length, as disclosed by Hernández, who is currently protective about keeping the text away from the media’s eyes), but the spokesperson for Asamblea Ciudadana Portuense has teased some key points and strategies, such as “reforming the human resources situation within the city council, as neglecting it hinders the development of public policies and shows a lack of prioritisation in fortifying the workforce. For instance, the municipal archive has been vacant for the past four months.”
Another aspect outlined includes discontinuing expired and unstable leases and contracts, as they tend to become more costly and fail to deliver as expected. Additionally, of great importance to ACP is the provision of funding for projects with established execution plans, such as the makeover of the San Antonio neighbourhood (where support from the Cabildo and regional Government is crucial), the construction of a parking facility in Plaza de Europa (previously requested for three years with no avail), the enhancement of Los Cachazos project, the redevelopment of the old bus station (which could significantly transform the city in recent years, with only a preliminary feasibility study in place), among others.
Furthermore, there have been discussions about refurbishing the dock at the pier to prevent water ingress (estimated at 3 million Euros) and “upgrading Pelinor Street (a long-overdue request) to offer alternative housing options for residents. Social aspects have also been addressed, like establishing a social integration company and ensuring future usage of the swimming pool (a central hub for water sports) is clearly defined to provide differential access for both clubs and residents, a feature lacking until now.
On a more ideological front, plans are underway to replace children’s beauty contests with a children’s gala, a move that was previously turned down by the PSOE. Efforts are also being made to enhance public transport, particularly by making the new La Vera line permanent or extending the Botánico line to reach Luis Rodríguez Figueroa. In terms of housing, the proposal includes creating at least two pools of social housing within the municipality, taking advantage of new opportunities arising from regional government decrees. They also plan to address the deteriorating conditions of schools through a comprehensive improvement plan and revitalise social housing projects like those in La Vera and El Tejar to meet class A standards.
It is emphasised that the current administration is not following a specific city model, regardless of political orientation. Instead, policies are being based on quantity rather than quality, which conflicts with the vision of creating a sustainable city. The efforts put into developing an advanced document for a sustainable city that both the PP and CC agree on reflect the commitment to this pact.
On his end, Alonso Acevedo (CC) stressed that the agreement is built on strong and stringent foundations. The pact did not materialise overnight but has been in the works for some time, motivated by the mayor’s ineffective and negligent management that neglected the residents and the city. This commitment is founded on earnest and steadfast collaboration, carried out with discretion and composure, ensuring seamless execution. The local committee of Puerto de la Cruz deliberated on this decision with unanimous backing from the regional and island committees, ensuring that the agreed-upon projects progress successfully with external backing.
