Tenerife: Authorities accused of "creating a position to order" for a People's Party candidate.

A scandal has erupted in Tenerife: the local branch of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) has accused the island's authorities, led by Rosa Dávila (from the CC party) together with the People's Party, of "creating a position to order" in the state-owned company Cultesa. They say this was done to appoint a councilor and candidate from the People's Party from the town of Candelaria, Jacobo López, as the new director.

Aarón Afonso, a representative of the socialists in the local council, called it "a blatant case of cronyism" and demands the immediate dismissal of the "appointee." He insists that the council announce a fair and open competition for the position of head of the company, where the main criteria will be knowledge, skills and experience.

"Rosa Dávila and the People's Party simply invented a position that did not exist before in order to push their own person through. This is the use of public money for party interests and disrespect for professionals who have been managing Cultesa for years, relying on their knowledge," Afonso said.

According to information that has appeared, the board of directors of Cultesa (a company in which the local authorities of Tenerife have a majority stake) created the position of director on September 5. This happened just as the previous manager retired. The appointment took place quietly, without any announcements and without even mentioning it on the transparency website, where the new director was not among the members of the council.

The socialists remind that Cultesa is a scientific company that deals with plant biotechnology, improvement of genetics and cultivation of plants without diseases. It employs highly qualified specialists with extensive experience in agricultural research.

"This is not a political position, but a research company that needs an experienced manager with in-depth knowledge. Instead of holding an open competition, they simply appointed a councilor from the People's Party who has no experience in management or in this field," Afonso is outraged.

He also notes that Jacobo López is a representative of the People's Party in Candelaria and plans to become mayor. Therefore, in his opinion, this appointment is a way to ensure his political independence at the expense of the state.

"It is no coincidence that the position was created exactly when the previous manager retired. Instead, they should have announced a fair and professional competition, and not create a warm place for their own," Afonso emphasizes.

According to the PSOE, this situation shows how Rosa Dávila and the People's Party actually govern: non-transparently, with cronyism and the use of state-owned companies for political purposes.

"While the island is waiting for solutions to problems with transport, assistance to people in need, and housing, the local authorities are busy creating positions for their own. This is the "renewal" they promised: blatant cronyism," Afonso sums up.