San Juan de la Rambla Council to Prosecute Mayor Over Alleged Administrative Misconduct

The San Juan de la Rambla City Council has voted to join the ongoing legal case against its mayor, Juan Ramos, as a private prosecutor.

Mayor Ramos is currently under investigation by the La Orotava Court for alleged administrative misconduct. The case centers on the transfer of the Mirador de Mazapé facilities to the El Atlántico Airsoft Association, which was reportedly carried out without the required administrative documentation.

The decision to intervene was passed during a plenary session by a majority vote from the PSOE, AUP-Sí se puede, and Nueva Canarias. The Popular Party and Coalición Canaria voted against the measure. The session was led by First Deputy Mayor Jonay Méndez, who unsuccessfully tried to delay the vote until a new government team is formed on November 4th. However, the municipal secretary clarified that the council could assess any potential financial damages at a later stage in the proceedings.

Gloria Méndez, speaking for the PSOE, argued that the council has a duty to protect public assets and address concerns previously raised by municipal staff, who had called for the property to be vacated. She emphasized that this legal step is not a declaration of guilt, but a necessary measure to safeguard the public interest.

The 17-minute debate was interrupted by a island-wide volcanic drill, which triggered the Civil Protection emergency alert system. The disruption prompted future mayor Ezequiel Domínguez to criticize the safety of the current meeting space, noting that emergency exits were blocked and calling for the council to return to its official headquarters.

By acting as a private prosecutor, the City Council will now have direct access to evidence and a formal role in the investigation. This legal move allows the local government to oversee the case as the courts determine whether the mayor’s actions constituted illegal, arbitrary decision-making.