Granadilla de Abona Faces Backlash Over Controversial Speaker Choice for First-Aid Event

The Granadilla de Abona City Council’s decision to hire public speaker Miguel Assal for a first-aid presentation on October 31 has sparked a heated debate over how the local government selects its guest speakers. The event, organized by the Department of Emergencies—led by Vox councilor José Sanabria—has faced significant backlash due to concerns over Assal’s professional history.

Public criticism stems from past comments in which Assal admitted that, while working as a lifeguard, he deliberately ignored warning signs about sea currents to create rescue scenarios. Although he later apologized and called the behavior a "youthful mistake," the incident drew public condemnation from Health Minister Mónica García at the time. Local groups are now questioning why the City Council is endorsing a figure with such a controversial background, suggesting that the department should instead feature maritime rescue professionals or accident prevention experts with unblemished records.

This controversy adds to ongoing scrutiny regarding the Department of Emergencies. Last December, the department faced similar criticism after spending over €18,000 on a documentary and presentation featuring Miguel Rix, a figure associated with denialist and far-right views, which resulted in protests.

Despite the public outcry, the City Council has remained tight-lipped. Officials have refused to disclose the cost of Assal’s talk, titled "A different experience to save lives in the first five minutes," or provide any comment on the selection process. As of now, the event is still scheduled to go ahead at the San Isidro multifunctional center at the end of the month.