The participation of the far-right Vox in the Government of the City of Arona, situated in the southern region of Tenerife, does not present any obstacle for the Canarian coalition, which remains committed to its partnership with the PP as long as it does not adversely affect its own party. This was articulated on Wednesday by Fernando Clavijo, the president of the Canarian government and general secretary of CC, who expressed no concerns about governing alongside the far-right, despite previously stating during the 2023 electoral campaign that he would not do so.
CC has already empowered Vox’s far-right influence in Teguise (Lanzarote) following the recent local elections. This was the first and solely city council within the Canary Islands where Vox achieved entry into a governing team. However, shortly thereafter, the sole elected councillor from the party departed and is currently listed as unaffiliated. As a result, despite securing seats across various Canary administrations, Santiago Abascal’s party currently holds no influence whatsoever. Until now.
Clavijo, disregarding his supposed red lines, clarified on Wednesday that, provided the programmes and agreements established by CC in the Arona government remain unaffected, there would be no justification for withdrawing nationalist support from the municipal administration. He indicated that the recent decisions made by the mayor, Fatima Lemes (PP), regarding the reshaping of her municipal team fall within her “areas of authority.”
Thus, in the event that two VOX councillors join the municipal corporation’s government group and CC decides to withdraw its support, Clavijo pointed out that the Nationalist Party has no “pact with Vox.” What exists is merely an investiture agreement within the City Council. Consequently, the mayor’s decisions, which presently do not impact the existing agreement with CC, are deemed “within her scope of authority.”
“If the CC areas and the sealed agreement and programme remain unperturbed, which is currently the case, any further decisions made by the mayor in other areas are within her jurisdiction,” stated Clavijo during a press conference held to mark the signing of an agreement aimed at bolstering the Canary Islands Agrotourism and Endourism Chair.
