José Manuel Bermúdez to Seek Re-election as Mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Incumbent Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez has confirmed he will lead the Coalición Canaria ticket in the 2027 Santa Cruz de Tenerife elections, campaigning on a platform of infrastructure development, traffic management, and continuity.
The race for mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is officially underway, with incumbent José Manuel Bermúdez confirming he will lead the Coalición Canaria ticket in the May 2027 elections. Bermúdez hopes to secure another term to finish several major infrastructure and strategic projects that he believes will shape the city’s future over the next decade.
At the heart of his platform is the "Urban Impulse Plan," a €130 million investment aimed at upgrading essential services like sanitation, lighting, and road paving across the city’s districts. Other key goals include the opening of the new CaixaForum and the reopening of the renovated Guimerá Theater. Bermúdez also plans to transform the former refinery site into a hub for growth in the southern part of the city.
Managing traffic remains the most difficult technical challenge for the next term. To address congestion, the mayor proposes a new traffic control center, 60 new public transport vehicles, and the construction of multi-story parking garages. However, he notes that solving major bottlenecks at the southern entrance and the Añaza connection depends on regional government projects, such as burying the TF-4 and building the TF-5 bypass.
Politically, Bermúdez has ruled out any alliance with Patricia Hernández’s PSOE, his primary rival. While he is open to discussing specific management issues with other parties, he remains firmly opposed to Vox, citing deep disagreements over LGTBI rights, equality policies, and the structure of the State.
Reflecting on his four terms in office, Bermúdez points to his success in cutting debt to suppliers—which stood at €70 million in 2011—and reducing unemployment from 30,000 to 16,000. Looking toward the upcoming campaign, he warned that the rise of fake news and AI-driven manipulation will likely make this election cycle particularly intense.
Finally, the mayor addressed ongoing legal challenges regarding the city’s waste tax and Low Emission Zone. While he acknowledges that some court rulings may not go his way, he insists that the city must follow European and national regulations. He also highlighted the planned return of the Unipol police unit as a key part of his public safety strategy. Bermúdez is asking voters for continuity, arguing that his team’s long-term planning is now beginning to deliver real results.