For the past month, he has been subjected to a barrage of criticism and accusations from the PSOE, his previous governing ally in the Puerto de la Cruz City Council during both the prior and current terms, prior to collaborating with the Popular Party (PP) and Coalición Canaria (CC) on the censure motion that removed Marco González from the Mayor’s position. This choice received the endorsement of his political party, and he is optimistic that it will yield the anticipated outcomes, enabling a different management approach in the City Council, rather than being “conducted over the phone and devoid of proper procedures.”
-But you have been complicit in this situation…
“We have shown flexibility and understanding. We maintain an alternative approach to management and advancing projects. We proposed that festivities and Carnival be tendered appropriately, yet this has traditionally been handled via phone calls and invoices, involving substantial sums, in the millions of euros, that rightfully belong to the citizens. The ACP has consistently pointed out the necessity for regularising procedures, and in April, during a plenary session concerning an extrajudicial credit recognition exceeding one million euros, we affirmed that this was our limit; we could not persist in this manner of operation. It was a direct confrontation to our governing partner, yet there was no self-reflective action from the PSOE, which perceived it as a threat and a vehement reaction against the ACP.”
-Why did the ACP not negotiate for the Mayor’s Office when its councillors were, with the exception of PP councillor Javier González, the only ones with governance experience?
“With this new collaboration, our aim is not to seek the spotlight but to persist in our focus areas: urban development, employment, and sports initiatives—areas where progress was nearly impossible this past year due to the PSOE’s constraints.”
-What does the ACP stand to gain from this new collaboration?
“The ACP made this decision democratically and participatively, consulting our members and supporters—considering both support and opposition—primarily for the benefit of the municipality. Our rationale was not electoral gain but rather a fight against the neglect of Puerto de la Cruz. Consequently, we made the bold and intricate decision to foster progressive public policies that truly benefit citizens, aiming to uphold the aspirations of those who supported a specific city model. Had we opted for opposition, which was another avenue, the ACP would have been excluded from decision-making, which would have been unjust following five years of diligent work, especially with numerous projects pending completion, merely because our main ally, the PSOE, neglected its responsibilities.”
-Do your members and supporters comprehend that a left-wing political party, associated with Podemos, is collaborating with the PP and CC, especially in light of past accusations?
“I believe this emergency agreement, which we never anticipated achieving, has been grasped better than we had expected, and we’ve garnered more backing than imagined. The ACP has received support, indicated by the figures—65% voting in favour. It is true there were dissenting voices, but I have also received backing from a large majority. This includes support from the left in general, with several messages even from PSOE members expressing agreement. I gauge this sentiment carefully, not allowing flattery to influence me, nor destructive criticism; I aim to keep grounded. The public’s reception has been overwhelmingly positive, despite warnings that the days immediately following could be challenging. Some individuals close to the PSOE did reproach me for this decision, though not harshly, and rather seeking to understand the situation, which provided me an opportunity to clarify our position. Acronyms are not paramount; actions validate our commitment. This is what we have done and will persist in doing: working diligently.”
Are you aware that this decision may have repercussions for you in 2027 and that the ACP could potentially cease to exist?
“It has indeed been a risky decision for the municipality; our focus is not on the ramifications for 2027, but it reflects the ACP’s essence—a party concerned for the city’s interests. This choice mirrors those made in various municipalities with other political entities; Puerto de la Cruz is not the first instance. In local governance, values, personnel, and the work accomplished outweigh any political label. I regard this as a chance to demonstrate to the people of Puerto that the ACP is committed, not to garner applause from either side of the political spectrum, but to enhance its public policies and implement its agenda—an undertaking we shall pursue with renewed vigor, fresh commitments, and a dedicated team eager to execute our clear plan from the outset. Our path forward is well-defined.”
-How will consensus be achieved on issues where the three political parties—particularly the PP and ACP—hold opposing viewpoints, such as LGBT or religious policies?
“A section of the agreement aligns closely with what we previously established with the PSOE—and which they violated. The PP and CC have agreed to honour it. Thus, there is a commitment to continuing policies that have been beneficial, alongside 32 significant public commitments, such as the refurbishment of social housing in La Vera and El Tejar, plans for the San Antonio area, Los Cachazos, and the dock in front of El Peñon, which has a budget of three million euros and lacked funding until now. Additionally, other social initiatives will be pursued, like projects catering to the migrant community, and the revamping of the children’s gala to replace the beauty pageant format, following the model from the municipality of Candelaria. We will staunchly advocate for social justice and human rights, which is precisely why I took on the roles related to Equality and LGBTI matters, to eliminate any ambiguity. It now lies with the citizens to monitor adherence to what we have committed to and assess whether the agreement is fulfilled.”
-Did the absence of budget provisions for the areas managed by the ACP contribute to the collapse of the agreement?
“We interpreted the budgetary concerns as a form of extortion. During the negotiation for the 2024 budget, we affirmed a document stipulating that the first modification to the credit would involve securing tangible allocations for the ACP’s domains, particularly in Urban Planning. There were significant projects scheduled since the year’s onset but without allocated funds. Despite this, the situation did not evolve, hence, in March, this issue was raised at the Pact Table, and compliance was demanded. The deadline was extended to 15 April; however, that month, the PSOE submitted invoices exceeding one million euros for the Festivals budget, many of which were processed without proper procedures and riddled with irregularities—on which vote we abstained. The PSOE perceived this as an affront to the agreement, leading to their proposal for a reassessment with new stipulations, asserting that both partners must take aligned votes, effectively halting all administrative processes and thereby freezing resources for our sectors. This is all documented.”
-Was it really that challenging to realign the situation?
“Following that email, there were a few further discussions aimed at reinstating our budget allocations, as we could no longer function or fulfil our commitments. Therefore, I struggle to comprehend the victim narrative that the PSOE is adopting, considering the true victims have been the two ACP councillors, who remained committed to…”
as executioners, attempting to suppress us, and evidence of this is that the adjustment of the budgets for our sectors was not implemented until the plenary session in July.”
-Is it accurate, as Marco González accused you, that you and your associate, Alberto Cabo, left 75% of the 2023 budget unutilised in your departments?
“It is a regrettable half-truth, manipulated and misconstrued. The Urban Planning department commences with a budget, oversees it and executes it, particularly towards the close of the financial year. If we examine the execution for the recent months, it is significantly higher. The narrative stemming from the initial months of the year is misleading, which is why I have not attempted to refute this allegation.”
-He additionally cautioned that events in the neighbourhoods will be halted…
“That is a falsehood. There will be celebrations as they are crucial for the identity, growth and social fabric of the communities. The activities will persist in the municipality, but they must not be the sole focus and the priority should be on those that contribute to more than just enhancing the image of a select few. This is all ostensibly to validate the presence of tourists, when there is an influx of tourism across the Canary Islands. We are inundated with visitors, yet we must cater to them and attend to other essential needs, such as maintaining pavements and roads in good condition, to ensure that the use of public spaces does not hinder accessibility, thus allowing individuals to enjoy the beaches, for example.”
-The PSOE accused its member of withholding the report regarding the situation at Playa Jardín, which is quite serious
“This is yet another distortion, as all communication entering the City Council from various administrations is processed through the General Registry before reaching the Mayor’s Office. Moreover, the accountability for the complete water cycle has consistently remained within the Services division, managed by the PSOE. The claim being made is rather unbelievable. Additionally, if it was indeed so severe, why was the councillor not dismissed by the mayor at that juncture? What has occurred here is an attempt to claim credit for the work carried out by the departments that the ACP managed, particularly in the last ten days when we were absent from the City Council. This happened with the Teide Trophy, an initiative that required considerable effort, and they did not hesitate to feature in the media, similar to the funding that was allocated in Sports, or the Sustainable Development Plan.”
