Cristina Duque, vice-secretary and spokesperson for Lanzarote’s PSOE Executive Commission, has accused the Partido Popular (PP) of attempting to deflect attention from its own corruption by casting doubt over the hiring of a company in which minority shareholder Ariagona González is involved.
Duque asserted that this tactic aims to distract from an extraordinary plenary session addressing the scandal involving PP member Ángel Vázquez. She stated, “The ones who tried to employ their relatives are Ángel Vázquez, Yonathan de León, and Eli Merino, and that’s what has the Partido Popular on edge.”
In response to the PP’s demand for accountability from the PSOE, Duque firmly defended her party. “Ariagona González’s declaration of assets, submitted to the Cabildo’s Secretariat, clearly shows her minority share in the family business, something she has never hidden. She has never participated in contract bidding as a councillor and has not submitted offers, signed contracts, or received payments, as she remains completely uninvolved in the company’s management.”
Duque highlighted that González’s family business has been supplying materials and services to nearly all public administrations on the island for thirty years, competing in public tenders with full transparency.
“My colleague’s conduct is beyond reproach, unlike the actions of the Partido Popular’s public officials. It’s simply outrageous that those who should be offering explanations and apologising to the public are the ones trying to create doubt,” she added.
Duque concluded, “The PP’s statement aims to silence the PSOE ahead of the Extraordinary Plenary requested to demand explanations regarding Ángel Vázquez’s behaviour, but we will not be silenced. The PSOE will continue to expose the corrupt practices of the Partido Popular.”
