The Lanzarote branch of the PSOE has raised concerns about an upcoming trip by the island’s government to Mauritania at the end of November, describing it as part of a pattern of excessive international travel by local officials.
The trip, scheduled between November 22 and 30, 2026, will see Fishing Councillor Samuel Martín lead a delegation to Nouadhibou. The visit aims to sign a general protocol for cooperation between the Nouadhibou City Council and the Lanzarote Cabildo.
PSOE spokesperson Ariagona González has criticised both the duration and frequency of these international trips under President Oswaldo Betancort’s leadership. She highlighted earlier travels to destinations such as New York, Iceland, Brazil, Rome, and Gambia, accusing the government of treating the Cabildo like a “travel agency.”
González stated that while institutional visits can be justified, they should be targeted and proportionate to their goals.
Among the trips she cited was Betancort’s journey to New York with a delegation to promote tourism on the island. She also mentioned a visit to Iceland to reaffirm Lanzarote’s status as a UNESCO Global Geopark, where the PSOE questioned the necessity for three government members to attend.
Further trips included Transport Councillor Miguel Ángel Jiménez’s visit to Curitiba, Brazil, in October 2025, to examine their transport system, as well as recent travel by Social Services Councillor Marci Acuña to Gambia for a cooperation project focusing on emergency training and the donation of a fire truck and a bus.
González has urged the island’s government to apply the same level of diligence in managing Lanzarote’s affairs as they do in organising international trips.
