Santa Cruz City Council Paralyzed by Election-Year Infighting
Political infighting and election-year tensions have paralyzed the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, stalling critical municipal business and budget debates.
The upcoming elections have turned the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council into a battleground, bringing local government business to a standstill. During yesterday’s plenary session, the governing coalition (CC-PP) and the opposition (PSOE and Vox) abandoned any attempt at cooperation, choosing instead to trade political barbs.
The tension peaked during a debate over budget changes, including 26 million euros for debt repayment and 2.8 million euros for cleaning costs and the return of European funds. These funds are tied to pedestrian projects at the Nuestra Señora de África Market, which have faced heavy criticism. Socialist spokesperson Patricia Hernández claimed the city will lose 400,000 euros in interest payments to Europe due to poor project management, adding this to the 6.3 million euros already lost from a cancelled bike lane project.
Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez defended his administration, hitting back at the central government and warning the opposition that their aggressive tactics could backfire at the polls. The situation grew so heated that Hernández announced she would report the mayor to the Electoral Board, accusing him of using his office to campaign for his party, Coalición Canaria.
This infighting has paralyzed the council’s work. A motion on "stressed" rental zones was withdrawn following a dispute over public participation, and the governing team broke a previous agreement regarding municipal kiosks. Heritage Councilor Javier Rivero stated that the agreement was scrapped in retaliation for the opposition’s insults.
To make matters worse, the session was plagued by technical issues, with a failing audio system forcing councilors to use handheld microphones. While minor, the glitch added to the chaotic atmosphere of a day where political maneuvering clearly took priority over the city’s needs. This growing polarization highlights how the approaching election is preventing the council from addressing key issues for the city.