Reacting to what they perceive as a democratic outrage, the spokesperson for the Popular Party (PP) in Puerto de la Cruz, Pedro Antonio Campos, declared during a recent plenary session that they will be taking action regarding 162 invoices related to festival expenses. These invoices have been approved by the socialist group, amounting to a total of €687,372.
Campos described the file as “a serious administrative blunder” with a negative report from the Municipal Intervention citing various irregularities. The PP members warned of potential serious legal consequences for those involved in the decision-making process. Campos highlighted that the expenses were incurred without proper budget coverage, contracts were split to circumvent regulations, necessary documentation according to Public Sector Contracts Law was ignored, and key procedural steps were omitted.
The intervention also revealed that the invoices lacked proper signatures by the authorized individuals, with responsibilities often assumed by the Festival councilor and the mayor. The expenses covered a wide range of activities including light and sound setups, musical performances, rental services, workshops, decorations, entertainment, security services, catering, and more.
Pointing towards potential violations, Campos referenced Article 404 of the Penal Code, warning against arbitrary administrative resolutions. He questioned the motivations behind such spending and criticised the lack of respect for public funds, stressing that the PP would take the matter to the Prosecutor’s Office to establish accountabilities.
Moreover, Campos called out the PSOE for losing the support of their government partner, the Portuense Citizen Assembly (ACP), endangering the stability of the government. He emphasised the importance of prioritising the financial contributions of the citizens and accused the PSOE of neglecting these responsibilities in favour of unchecked spending.
The file faced opposition from the Canarian Coalition councillors and the ACP chose to abstain from voting due to insufficient information on specific files. However, this decision was clarified not to impact the government pact.
“I believe in the trust that the citizens have placed in me”
Echoing his commitment to the public’s trust, the Mayor of Puerto de la Cruz, Marco González, affirmed that he has always prioritised the faith citizens have bestowed upon him. Despite the current situation, he expressed willingness to confront any judicial challenges if need be.
