Socialist González Slams Puerto de la Cruz Government, Budget
Puerto de la Cruz's three-party government approved its over 50 million euro 2026 budget on November 24, despite strong criticism from socialist spokesperson Marco González and the PSOE, who deemed it aimless, improperly created, and lacking focus on citizen needs.
Marco González, a socialist spokesperson and former mayor, has strongly criticized Puerto de la Cruz's three-party government. He describes it as "aimless, lacking ambition, and without a clear plan for the city." González also hit back at a government spokesperson's recent claim that he, as mayor from 2019 to 2023, both maximized taxes and failed to collect 45 million euros. He called these "unsubstantiated claims" a "ridiculous invention" made simply "for headlines, no matter how absurd."
González also criticized the way the budget was presented, calling it a "ceremony of confusion" because it was done "hastily and without giving space to the opposition." He finds it "ridiculous" that the government calls it "the most social budget." He points out that even though it's the largest budget overall, money for aid to vulnerable families only goes up by a tiny 2% (just 15,000 euros compared to 2025), which is less than the cost of living increase. In contrast, expenses for official events are rising to 150,000 euros, an amount similar to what's spent on advertising and propaganda.
The PSOE party tried to amend the entire budget document. They argued that "unfavorable reports" from Human Resources, Municipal Intervention, and the secretary himself show that the budget was created improperly and "does not address the main needs of the residents of Puerto de la Cruz."
Through their spokesperson, the socialists in Puerto de la Cruz urged the "right-wing government" to stop focusing on propaganda and start working. They stated that in the year and a half since the vote of no confidence, it's clear the government "still has nothing to offer the citizens of Puerto de la Cruz." They believe the government's "drift towards the absurd" comes from its "desperation over their inability to face the challenges in mobility, cultural infrastructure, and housing that are suffocating the city."
Despite these criticisms, the municipal government, made up of the PP, CC, and ACP parties, approved the 2026 budget, which is over 50 million euros, during a plenary session on November 24.