The City of Arona will unveil its new municipal governance agreement today, following the dismissal on January 15 of the four councillors for Arona due to “loss of confidence, lack of team cohesion, and significant dissatisfaction,” as stated by Mayor Fatima Lemes (PP).
The reorganisation of the local administration involves the inclusion of two Vox councillors (Naim Yañez and Desiré Santos) into the coalition maintained by the Popular Party and the Canarian coalition, each of whom has five councillors. This new governing group will consist of 12 councillors, falling just short of an absolute majority. The far-right party is expected to oversee, barring any last-minute changes, the departments of tourism, culture, and economic development. The sole councillor from Nueva Canarias (NC), Nauzet Fariña, who has remained silent since the dismissal of Dácil León, Juan Sebastián Roque, Luis García, and Pura Martín, could play a significant role, although his involvement in the government has been ruled out, as has the possibility of external support for the remaining two years of the term, according to information obtained by this newspaper.
The NC spokesperson in Tenerife, Valentín Correa, who previously indicated to a publication that participating in a government with Vox is “a red line,” reiterated yesterday in a statement to this newspaper that there has been no change in stance. “I am quite surprised that we have been included in this coalition; I do not know who suggested that we would support this administration,” he remarked.
Emphasising that contact with Nauzet Fariña is “constant”, he cautioned that “from this point forward, matters will need to proceed thoroughly, and discussions must take place. We will approach this dialogue thoughtfully, prioritising the interests of the residents,” he stated. In addition to the NC councillor, the opposition will comprise eight PSOE councillors, led by former mayor José Julián Mena, along with the four councillors from Arona, two parties having faced off since the dissolution of the governing coalition during the previous term. Some sources close to the administration did not dismiss the possibility of discussions in the coming days between the PSOE and Más por Arona (they even suggested a first contact in a hotel on Monday evening) to forge a possible agreement that could culminate in a censure motion in the short term, alongside Nueva Canarias, aiming to end Lemes’s tenure and her coalition. However, from Mena’s circle, any chance of reconciling with the party led by Dácil León was dismissed after the tumultuous previous term, which included court summonses.
Ordinary Plenary
The announcement regarding the restructuring of the new government for the municipality of Major Population of the South Tenerife will take place tomorrow during an ordinary municipal plenary, which is anticipated to be tense. The session is set for 9 in the morning at the City Council, where Mayor Fatima Lemes will revoke the Delegations from the four councillors for Arona. During the meeting, the socialist group, which holds the majority in the plenary chamber, will inquire about the performance of the four departments previously managed by Más por Arona. Specifically, the PSOE will question the quantity of major work permits issued since July 2023, the assistance approved for housing refurbishment, the management of the Arona Tourism Board, and the total amount of outstanding invoices awaiting payment. The proceedings of tomorrow’s plenary will reflect the political atmosphere that will prevail within the Aonero Consistory henceforth. The opposition will present challenges for the PP-CC-Vox coalition, which will have to lead without an absolute majority, foreshadowing a renewed presence of instability and tension that caused significant issues during the prior term over the Southern City Council.
