Municipal Crisis in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: Opposition Criticizes New Structural Changes

In a tense political landscape, the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is grappling with what the opposition describes as a deep-seated crisis within the municipal government. The Partido Popular (PP) has vehemently criticized the recent structural changes announced by Mayor Carolina Darias, labeling them as symptomatic of a government in disarray.

Criticism of the New Structure

On October 17, 2024, Jimena Delgado, the PP spokesperson in the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the new municipal structure. Delgado argued that the changes are a clear indication of an internal crisis within Darias's team. She emphasized that if the true intention was to address citizen demands and needs, the first change should be the dismissal of the current Cleaning Councillor.

Delgado pointed to the widespread protests, including the recent one in El Polvorín, as evidence of public discontent with the city's management. "Just a year after taking office, the local government has been embroiled in a crisis affecting three of the eight areas into which the municipal organization was divided in June 2023. This reflects a clear loss of control in city management," she stated.

Assignment of Key Areas

The PP has also questioned the decision to assign both the Security and Culture areas to a single person, Josué Íñiguez. Delgado highlighted that this move demonstrates a lack of specialized profiles to manage these critical areas effectively, underscoring the improvisation within Darias's team.

Cultural Sector Neglect

The opposition party plans to present a motion at the next City Council plenary session on October 25 to promote culture in the city. According to the PP, the cultural sector has been neglected by Darias's administration, despite its importance to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Multiple Crises

Delgado outlined four major crises facing the city: the crisis in basic public services, social crisis, judicial investigations (including the Valka case and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's investigation into the Promotion Society), and the government crisis itself.

Broken Promises

The PP reminded Darias of her promise, made a year and four months ago, to make Las Palmas de Gran Canaria the "best city to live in." However, the situation has reportedly worsened under her leadership. The reorganization of the government has led to Carla Campoamor losing the area of Citizen Participation, a traditional stronghold of the left and the PSOE, which has been neglected during this administration.

District Assignments

The assignment of the Ciudad Alta district to Betsaida González, who has no apparent connection to the area, has also been criticized. González was previously a vocal member of the Centro district, raising questions about her suitability for the new role.

Public Discontent

The ongoing protests and public dissatisfaction are seen as a direct result of the poor management and lack of citizen participation in municipal projects, such as the Guiniguada project, which is a personal initiative of Mayor Darias.

In summary, the PP's strong criticism of the new municipal structure in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria highlights deep-seated issues within the city's government, reflecting broader public discontent and calls for significant changes to address the city's multiple crises.