Granadilla de Abona became the focal point yesterday of one of the most charged political movements in recent years within southern Tenerife. The motion of no confidence presented by the Canarian Coalition, Popular Party and Vox was successful with 13 votes in favour, resulting in the removal of the socialist mayor Jennifer Miranda and restoring the leadership to José Domingo Regalado (CC), who is set to undertake his third term, two of which have followed motions of censure.
The event, characterised by a fraught atmosphere both inside and outside the plenary chamber, also highlighted the internal division within the Popular Party, where two of its councillors cast their votes against the motion.
The plenary session, held amidst rigorous security measures, unfolded under a cloud of high anticipation. Approximately 200 individuals congregated near the Consistory, where banners were displayed and chants such as “fascists of the City Council” and “socialists who do not vote” were heard. Upon the arrival of the PP councillor Marcos Antonio Rodríguez Santana, a crucial vote for the motion’s success, some demonstrators greeted him with shouts of “traitor”.
Inside the chamber, the tension remained palpable. The session was presided over by the secretary of the City Council, Manuel Ortiz, who was flanked at the head table by Carmen Dolores Rodríguez de Vera, the elder councillor, and Celia Navill Trujillo, the youngest.
The visual symbols were also telling: Bianca Cerbán, the PP mayor who opposed the motion, stood beside Miranda, wearing a blue jacket that sharply contrasted with the vibrant red of the outgoing mayor, conveying a powerful message.
In his address, José Domingo Regalado began by attacking Pedro Martín, the former insular secretary of the Socialist Party, who was present in the room. Regalado accused him of “forgetting how he rose to power” in the Cabildo, notably through a motion of no confidence. “The priest forgets when he was a sacristan,” he remarked, recalling similar events in Fuerteventura, La Palma, and the Government of Spain itself, and warning: “How hard it is to witness this when the roles are reversed.”
Galado defended the motion, labelling it as “a democratic instrument” designed to correct misdirections and appealed to “common sense as a guiding ideology for resolving citizens’ issues.”
He also condemned his predecessor for failing to utilise the more than six million euros that the previous administration had set aside for investment. Galado accused the PSOE of “interfering” in the management of departments run by the PP and alleged that they acted as “the opposition to the opposition” while in government.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Miranda delivered a speech that struck a calm tone. “Today, I shall speak from the heart, not for my councillors, but for my neighbours,” she stated. She expressed gratitude for the support she had received and asserted that the motion of no confidence did not reflect the will of the people. “It has been orchestrated from the Government’s presidency in Santa Cruz,” she stated, emphasising that “Granadilla is not for sale” and accusing her opponents, especially Vox, of attempting to turn the Canary Islands “into a land of conquered rights.”
Miranda characterised Galado as the “puppet endowed by the design of his mentor,” referring to Fernando Clavijo, and underscored that the new mayor “has not won a single election yet.”
She concluded her speech with a tone of acceptance: “Representing you over these past 20 months has been the greatest honour of my life. We shall continue to walk with our heads held high,” she declared.
One of the most talked-about moments involved Marcos Antonio Rodríguez, who had remained silent until this debate unfolded. The only PP mayor in support of the motion expressed that “this has been one of the most challenging decisions” of his political life. He lamented that, during their coalition government with the PSOE, the PP had been treated as “employees rather than partners.” In a surprising turn of events, Santana praised his colleague Bianca Cerbán by stating: “She can manage multiple departments’ work,” he claimed.
David Santos, spokesperson for the socialist faction, delivered the most direct and critical speech of the debate. He accused Rodríguez of acting out of self-interest: “You jeopardise the future of the municipality for a petty gain,” he stated. He proceeded to label the new coalition as an “antinatural” government, describing it as a tripartite alliance of “extreme right, an alleged liberal, and a supposed nationalist.” In a pointed comment aimed at Regalado, he remarked: “Granadilla is losing a mayor and gaining a puppet.”
One noteworthy revelation came from the local party secretary, who disclosed that Fernando Clavijo had approached the PSOE with an offer to form a government in Granadilla. He stated that the proposal was promptly declined.
Breaking Protocol
The vote, conducted by hand, achieved the necessary majority to pass the motion. Regalado took his oath of office at the head table; however, the symbolic moment of the institutional transfer was overshadowed: the command baton was not handed over traditionally but had to be picked up directly from the table. This unusual act was compounded by the exit of the Socialist bench and Bianca Cerbán, both of whom left the chamber. Such actions diverge from customary protocol.
José Sanabria González and Adaisy Arias Pérez, councillors of Vox in Granadilla, played a significant role in the no-confidence motion. Their backing, although formalised recently, had been assured for months in collaboration with the Canarian Coalition, with which they had previously agreed upon a potential partnership following the municipal elections in May 2023. The same governing formula was proposed then, culminating in the current outcome, 21 months and eight days later, through the censure.
After the Socialists vacated the plenary, Galado expressed gratitude to Marcos González and Yanira González for “facilitating this new government” as both councillors prepare to resign from their positions – a process that will be formalised soon, as requested by Marcos Antonio Rodríguez.
Upon exiting the Consistory, flyers were launched, and the new mayor was greeted with cheers. One of the most notable gestures was Rodríguez embracing the two councillors he previously urged to detach themselves due to their status as “transfugas” of the PP. A scene brimming with contradiction.
Who Attended the Plenary: Institutional Presence and Key Absences
The assembly not only brought together the chief actors of the no-confidence motion but also served as a measure of support and the participation of the principal parties in southern Tenerife. The Popular Party sent the Cabildo Industry, Manuel Fernández, along with Ana Zurita, the director general of Industry. The PSOE’s response was notably more robust, with prominent figures including Tamara Raya, the island secretary of the party, her predecessor Pedro Martín, and Patricia Hernández, the former mayor of Santa Cruz, present in the chamber. In contrast, the Canarian Coalition did not dispatch any officials (similar to the previous motions of censure in 2016) although mayors from municipalities such as Guía de Isora, Adeje, and San Miguel de Abona attended to lend their support.
