The Lanzarote branch of the PSOE has expressed frustration that the Cabildo president, Oswaldo Betancort, failed to explain his support for Ángel Vázquez during a recent extraordinary plenary session. The meeting, requested by the Socialist Group, came after Vázquez, a member of the Partido Popular, received a permanent job as a cleaner in the Centers of Art, Culture and Tourism, despite conflicts of interest concerning his family ties.
Ariagona González from the PSOE stated it was perplexing that Betancort used the meeting to support Vázquez without addressing the reasons behind his decision to keep him in position. “Citizens expected political accountability, but what they got was further evidence of the protection Coalición Canaria gives to its government partners,” she said. González emphasised that their concerns were not about a public official’s right to employ relatives but about the need for impartiality in administration.
The PSOE also highlighted multiple attempts by Betancort to shield Vázquez from repercussions. Initially, Betancort tried to label a medical leave as a termination, which González’s colleague, Benjamín Perdomo, successfully opposed, leading to the proper termination of Vázquez from the CACT. Subsequent attempts to secure Vázquez exclusive leave and then a 75% reduction were also thwarted by PSOE interventions.
González asserted that Betancort should clarify why he prioritised protecting Vázquez over holding him accountable. She concluded that without the PSOE’s scrutiny, Vázquez could still be managing the tourism centres or enjoying a paid leave at the taxpayers’ expense.
The PSOE has drawn parallels between this incident and other recent controversies involving PP members, such as Yonathan de León’s promotion of his brother in the Local Police and Eli Merino’s involvement in hiring a family member. González warned that while the PP continues to deflect blame, Coalición Canaria is providing them political cover.
