Luis Rabionet/Efe.| Leopoldo Afonso (PP) has been appointed as the new mayor of Port of the Cross following a successful vote of no confidence. The Popular Party, Canary Islands Coalition and Portuense Citizen Assembly collectively brought down Marco Gonzalez (PSOE) after a deliberation that lasted from noon at the Port City Hall, marking the third such instance in the history of the municipal corporation. Afonso secured 11 votes in favour against 10 opposed.
The vote of no confidence was sanctioned during a tense extraordinary plenary session, characterised by multiple disruptions and the ejection of a spectator from the public gallery, along with mutual accusations between former coalition partners: the socialists decried a “betrayal” while the independents alleged an “attempt at subjugation”.
In his address during the plenary session, Gonzalez assured the new mayor that PSOE would offer constructive opposition and pledged not to “fuel the rise of far-right forces in this city.”
Leopoldo Afonso, brother of the Vice President of Tenerife’s Cabildo and former mayor of El Puerto, Lope Afonso, leads the PP municipal group and now assumes the role with the support of ACP and CC. However, the political landscape may see a shift back towards PSOE in 2027 according to electoral trends.
Motion of censure in Puerto de la Cruz. Sergio Méndez
Motion of censure in Puerto de la Cruz. Sergio Méndez
Motion of censure in Puerto de la Cruz. Sergio Méndez
Motion of censure in Puerto de la Cruz. Sergio Méndez
Motion of censure in Puerto de la Cruz. Sergio Méndez
The reasons behind the motion of censure
Leopoldo Afonso has pledged “a change in direction” for Puerto de la Cruz, which is currently experiencing “one of the darkest periods in its history”.
He has criticised the outgoing mayor for his focus on “festivities and extravagance” and “squandering on unnecessary luxuries” in a “persistent deceit” to mask “the disorder, the crisis, and the neglect” the tourist town is facing.
He has committed to enhancing the city’s economy, particularly in tourism and commerce, to boost employment rates and the efficiency of the local government. He has urged the PSOE to engage in “constructive” and “pragmatic” opposition to address the critical issues confronting the municipality.
In the 2023 local elections, the socialists fell short by 14 votes of an outright majority. They gained two additional council seats compared to the previous elections, increasing their vote share from 37.43% to 45.65%. The Popular Party secured 7 councillors; Coalición Canaria, 2; and Asamblea Ciudadana Portuense, 2
