Electoral Board Dismisses Coalición Canaria Complaint Against PSOE in Santa Cruz

The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Electoral Board has dealt a fresh blow to Coalición Canaria’s ongoing dispute with the local PSOE. The board has officially closed the case brought by the nationalist party, finding no evidence of wrongdoing in the socialists' recent campaign regarding the capital's waste tax.

The conflict began on October 3, when José Manuel Bermúdez’s party filed a complaint challenging the actions of Patricia Hernández. Coalición Canaria argued that the PSOE violated electoral law by using a municipal press conference to gain political ground following the court’s decision to annul the tax. They also claimed that the launch of a digital data collection platform, social media posts, and Hernández’s criticism of the mayor’s financial management constituted illegal campaign propaganda and slander.

In their defense on October 10, the PSOE argued that the complaint was baseless, noting that Hernández is not a candidate in the current electoral cycle. By dismissing the request to remove the content and refusing to issue any warnings or disciplinary measures, the Electoral Board has effectively sided with the socialists.

This incident highlights the common political tensions that arise before elections, where parties often use official channels to challenge their opponents' neutrality. With this decision, the Electoral Board has ruled that the PSOE’s actions did not break any rules, ending Coalición Canaria’s attempt to secure a formal sanction against the opposition.