Crisis in Betancuria: AM-CC pledges stability but sees the government’s future as “rather complicated”

A government with two councillors at the helm

The dismissal of the local government’s second-in-command has upset the balance within an administration now facing a narrow three-to-three split with the opposition, while the departing councillor is expected to join the non-attached group. This comes alongside legal proceedings in which the mayor is due to appear as a person under investigation for alleged offences of continuing administrative abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds and workplace harassment. His appearance, scheduled for 27 March, was postponed and is now expected to take place on 16 April.

Speaking on La Voz de Fuerteventura, on Radio Insular, the councillor warned of the complexity of the political situation and the administration’s limited capacity following the deputy mayor’s departure.

In practice, the local government is now reduced to two full-time councillors—the mayor, Enrique Cerdeña, and another councillor, José Cerdeña—while a third councillor in the governing group is not carrying out active duties. Pérez says this further limits the council’s ability to govern at an especially difficult time for the municipality.

Pérez says the deputy mayor’s departure did not surprise him. He questions how decisions are made within the governing group and points directly to the council’s political leadership. “A lot of decisions are made at the top, and nobody understands them,” he says.

Pérez highlights one of the demands put forward by Esperanza González, which the nationalists also support: introducing school canteens at small rural schools. He says the councillor had requested a budget allocation of around €30,000 to provide the service at the school with the largest number of pupils, in Valle de Santa Inés, but received no response.

“We believe it is essential for the survival of small rural schools,” Pérez says, stressing that the lack of services such as school meals and early-morning childcare makes it harder for families to balance work and family life and contributes to the municipality’s population decline.

In contrast with the council’s refusal, he points to other decisions he considers difficult to justify, such as spending more than €20,000 on improvements to an educational centre in Vega del Río Palmas, which has been closed for more than 15 years and is expected to be converted into a hostel. “It makes no sense,” he says, highlighting what he sees as a lack of consistency in the management of public funds.

Despite the situation, the party says it will maintain a position of “responsible opposition”, ruling out a motion of no confidence and opting instead to contribute to the municipality’s stability by supporting measures it considers beneficial to residents.

More plenary sessions and answers… by law

The AM-CC spokesperson also calls for the agreement made at the start of the council term to be honoured: ordinary plenary sessions every three months. “Right now, they’re being held every five or six months, and it’s a bit of a mess,” he says.

The first ordinary plenary session of the current year is due to take place this Tuesday, when the nationalist group will present two motions.

One concerns public housing and aims to make land available to public authorities so they can build new homes and help stem population decline. “It’s one of the main problems we face,” he says.

The other proposal seeks to strengthen the home-care service in response to rising demand and a lack of cover following staff absences in recent years. “We don’t just want to cover the absence; we want to strengthen and improve the service and the care provided to older people and those who depend on others,” he explains.

The AM-CC spokesperson also notes that his group has formally submitted its questions and requests, which will require the mayor to give public explanations. “There’s a section in the law that says that if we formally submit those questions and requests, the mayor has to answer them at the plenary session,” he concludes.