Opposition Files Motion of No Confidence Against San Juan de la Rambla Mayor
Opposition parties in San Juan de la Rambla have filed a motion of no confidence against Mayor Juan Ramos, citing institutional paralysis and his upcoming trial for alleged embezzlement.
Political instability in San Juan de la Rambla has reached a turning point after opposition parties filed a motion of no confidence against Mayor Juan Ramos of Coalición Canaria. According to Diario de Avisos, the move is led by the PSOE, Asamblea Unificada del Pueblo (AUP)-Sí se puede, and Nueva Canarias. They aim to reinstate Jesús Ezequiel Domínguez, who served as mayor from 2020 to 2023. With six votes secured in the eleven-member council, the opposition has the absolute majority needed to force a change just seven months after the last election, citing a need to address the municipality’s "institutional drift."
The opposition claims the current administration is paralyzed, pointing to stalled investments in the Espacio Cultural Rambla and the Casa de los Delgado Oramas. However, the primary driver for the motion is the mayor’s legal situation: he is due in court on December 4 to face allegations of embezzling public funds, a case brought by the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Provincial Prosecutor's Office.
The governing coalition fractured following the resignation of Juan Siverio (AUP-Sí se puede), who held several government roles until yesterday. His departure not only weakened the current administration but also enabled the City Council to vote to join the criminal proceedings against the mayor as a party. PSOE spokesperson Gloria Méndez described the motion as a matter of political responsibility, noting that the Socialists were the most-voted party in the 2023 election and that the current governing pact did not reflect the voters' wishes.
Under Article 197 of the Organic Law of the General Electoral Regime (LOREG), the City Council now has ten business days to hold an extraordinary plenary session to vote on the motion. If the motion passes, a transition period will begin to reorganize the local government. Coalición Canaria has not yet issued a formal statement, noting that they are holding internal meetings to discuss the situation. The motion remains viable despite one AUP-Sí se puede councilor currently being on leave, as the opposition already has the necessary signatures to proceed.