Lanzarote’s president, Oswaldo Betancort, has travelled to Santander during a particularly turbulent week for his administration following two controversies involving government officials. These issues include allegations regarding hiring practices at the Centres for Art, Culture, and Tourism (CACT) and the trip of Sports Councillor Juan Monzón to Hawaii.
While in Cantabria, Betancort has kept to his official schedule amidst rising demands for explanations concerning the actions of his councillors and their use of public resources. He has not held a public event to address either controversy.
The first issue centres on Ángel Vázquez, the Tourism Councillor, whose son secured a permanent position within the CACT after a selection process that Vázquez signed off on. A legal report indicated that Vázquez should have recused himself from the hiring process from July 2025, as his son was on the provisional list of candidates. The report raises concerns about the legitimacy of the process and suggests actions be retracted to the point Vázquez should have withdrawn.
Vázquez maintains that he delegated the hiring responsibilities and that his involvement was merely administrative. The Popular Party has removed him from his responsibilities regarding the tourist centres, although he retains his councillor role. He is also currently on prolonged medical leave.
The PSOE party has called for Betancort to demand Vázquez’s resignation from the council and convene an extraordinary session to provide clarity. In response, Betancort has urged his coalition partner to take action following the legal findings.
The second controversy involves Juan Monzón, the Sports Councillor, who travelled to Kona, Hawaii. The PSOE has questioned the twelve-day duration of his trip and has asked for details on its costs and itinerary. The Cabildo has connected the trip to the global profile of the Ironman Lanzarote event, which will celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2027. The discussion focuses on the necessity of understanding the trip’s expenditures and the tangible benefits for the island.
In Santander, Betancort met with Cantabria’s Councillor for Culture, Tourism, and Sport, Luis Martínez Abad. Their discussions covered tourism, economic issues, heritage, and security, along with cooperation aimed at enhancing air connections between Lanzarote and Cantabria.
The meeting also explored future collaboration beyond transport links, addressing economic diversification, European funding opportunities, and improvements in primary sector infrastructure. Topics included irrigation systems, livestock farming, heritage conservation, natural space management, and emergency preparedness.
While the institutional agenda continues, questions about the management of Betancort’s government linger. He faces pressure to resolve these controversies and uphold transparency in public administration.
