Former Mayor José Julián Mena Announces Bid to Reclaim Arona Leadership

Arona’s political scene is shifting as the 2027 elections approach. In a recent interview with Diario de Avisos, former mayor José Julián Mena announced his plan to run in the PSOE primaries. He aims to reclaim his former position, arguing that the current administration has been defined by inaction and a lack of direction.

Mena’s primary criticism of the current three-party government is its failure to spend the municipal budget. He claims the city council is sitting on a 180-million-euro surplus, yet only invested 1.5 million euros in 2025. This is a sharp drop from his own tenure, when annual investments reached as high as eight million euros. For Mena, this gap between the city’s financial health and its lack of public works is the core issue of his campaign.

Beyond the budget, Mena highlighted the housing crisis in the south of Tenerife. He pointed out a growing paradox: while Arona is a major economic hub and job creator, its own workers can no longer afford to live there. He also identified several other urgent needs, including better healthcare and education services, an updated cleaning contract, and more resources for local police.

Politically, Mena has distanced himself from both current mayor Fátima Lemes and the influence of Vox, which he accuses of causing social division. While acknowledging past mistakes during the 2020 PSOE internal crisis, he is now calling for a focus on future solutions. His platform rests on five main goals: a new housing plan, urgent neighborhood maintenance, improved mobility, faster administrative processes, and a boost to public investment.

By shifting the focus away from national politics and toward local management, Mena hopes to use his experience to end what he describes as three years of stagnation. The PSOE in Arona aims to win back voters by offering a model that prioritizes social justice and efficient government.