The PP could potentially acquire the Mayor’s Office of Güímar (in the short term), but they are reluctant to comply with the sole condition that CC has stipulated on a regional level to part ways with their partner since 2019 (the PSOE) and align with the conservatives: that their local leader, the former mayor Luisi Castro, relinquishes her position to facilitate that shift, owing to the strained relations with local nationalists.
The situation developed in a way that was initially three-pronged, but a fourth aspect emerged that altered certain dynamics. Upon the establishment of the municipalities in June 2023, the Directorate of the Canary Islands aimed to renegotiate some of the agreements on islands such as Tenerife that conflicted with their overarching pact (with notable exceptions, such as the Fuerteventura Cabildo) with CC in the archipelago or as a consequence of losing power which they feel accountable for. Consequently, they focused their attention and efforts on altering the pact of their two Discoles mayor in Granadilla with the PSOE, which awarded the mayor’s office to Jennifer Miranda, and endeavoured to see Luisi Castro, who had recently lost the elections in Güímar by a small margin, reclaim her position and disrupt the collaboration between CC and PSOE that has existed since 2019.
However, during this process, an opportunity arose that, initially, the conservative leadership in the islands did not foresee, despite the example set by San Juan de la Rambla, where we could collaborate since June 2023 alongside CC and PP to the detriment of the PSOE, which had won the elections without an absolute majority. A scenario like that had not been presented since the previous mandate in Buenavista, where the Socialists may potentially see their power diminish by 2023 with the sole mayor of CC (who lost the position on 28m).
In this instance, the rift opened in the port of La Cruz, where the governance between PSOE and Portuense Citizen Assembly (ACP) entered a period of mistrust in this mandate, culminating in months of covert negotiations between ACP, the PP, and CC until it led to the vote of censorship on August 12, which required an absolute majority from the 28m elections.
This unexpected Mayor’s Office in favour of the conservative Leopoldo Afonso, brother of the former mayor and current vice president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Lope Afonso, diminished a significant advantage that the popular party had to offset the return of authority to CC in Granadilla. The Mayor’s Office recently regained by Domingo Regalado in this other municipality, crucial for its 60,000 residents and infrastructure such as the airport or industrial port, was anticipated to balance out with Güímar’s position in favour of Luisi Castro. Nevertheless, the acquisition of Puerto de la Cruz has diluted that demand, as reliable sources within the PP acknowledge.
At this juncture, these sources confirm that, following Granadilla, CC (on a regional scale as well) is only prepared to dismiss the PSOE in Güímar in exchange for the PP relinquishing Luisi Castro, something that the popular party is entirely unwilling to entertain. This, as they concede, leaves them feeling exceedingly pessimistic about any shift in the municipality of Valle de Güímar for the remainder of the term, with Castro continuing to reach out to local factions (having extended an offer to the PSOE itself and other mayors) and that, barring any surprises, will once again stand as the head of the ticket in 2027.
The third preliminary aspect was Arico, where the socialist Olivia Delgado included both PP mayors in her administration in search of stability while maintaining an absolute majority with one councillor. Nevertheless, the regional offices of the PP and CC also sought to alter this agreement in favour of CC in the Mayor’s Office, but, similar to the situation in Puerto de la Cruz, they required the cooperation of a leftist party alongside the PSOE: Arico we are all. However, unanimously and in assembly, the members of this party decided in September 2024 to eliminate any censorship and partake in a government, which, unlike the northern touristic city, thwarted the aspirations of the PP and CC with regard to higher levels, consistently aligning with the overarching framework of Granadilla and Güímar. Moreover, in this case, the PP does not forfeit any power, as, depending on the agreement with the PSOE in Arico, it will gain command by the end of this year and continue until the next elections.
