Arona Council Passes €138 Million Budget Amidst Expulsions and Political Turmoil
Arona City Council approved a 133.9 million euro municipal budget amid significant controversy following the police-escorted expulsion of two Socialist councilors during a heated plenary session.
The Arona City Council’s recent plenary session to approve this year’s municipal budget was defined by significant tension. While the council ultimately passed a budget of 133.9 million euros—rising to 138 million in its consolidated form—the meeting was overshadowed by the expulsion of two Socialist councilors, Ruth Lorenzo and Sabina Mikaela Brito, following heated clashes with Mayor Fátima Lemes.
The conflict escalated when the mayor ordered Lorenzo to leave the chamber. After Lorenzo initially refused, local police were called to escort her out. She had previously been reprimanded for using personal insults toward the mayor. Shortly after, Brito was also removed after receiving three warnings for interrupting the proceedings. Brito contested the decision, arguing that the governing coalition did not apply the same disciplinary standards to its own members. The PSOE spokesperson, José Julián Mena, was also called to order during the session and requested mediation from the plenary secretary due to the hostile atmosphere.
The governing coalition—made up of the Popular Party, Canarian Coalition, and Vox—denied claims from the opposition that the expulsions were a strategic move to manipulate the vote. The mayor stated that the coalition had enough support to pass the budget regardless, noting that they held 12 votes in favor, including her own casting vote, despite the absence of one councilor from Más por Arona. The budget ultimately passed thanks to an abstention from Nueva Canarias, which had secured the inclusion of several of its own proposals in the final document.
Beyond the procedural drama, the budget highlights a deep divide over how the municipality is managed. The local government describes the plan as a roadmap for investing in public services and neighborhoods, specifically highlighting 8.5 million euros set aside for land acquisition for housing. However, the opposition parties, PSOE and Más por Arona, dispute this, claiming that no such funds have actually been allocated. This disagreement over housing policy is quickly becoming a central point of conflict for the current term.