The mayoress of Arrecife, Eva de Anta, has dismissed the accidental secretary of the City Council, Francisco Javier López. With his departure, which has been included in a mayoral decree notified this Monday, the mayoress would have also decided to appoint another official in his place, Pilar Machín. The City Council has stated that the reason for this dismissal is that the official "does not meet the labor category" for the position and that "there is no ratification from the Civil Service of his appointment."
Francisco Javier López held this position accidentally, since the permanent secretary position has not been filled in Arrecife for years. The first time he was appointed secretary was during the mayorship of Cándido Reguera, after the dismissal of Asenet Padrón. His designation, in fact, already caused controversy then. However, in June 2012, the City Council assured that the General Directorate of Public Function of the Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Equality of the Government of the Canary Islands considered "accredited" the fulfillment of the "formal and material requirements" in his appointment.
Later, López left this position and was replaced by another official, although on June 5, 2015, he was re-appointed to the position. Now, the current mayoress has revoked that designation, which was carried out after the last local elections and 8 days before the new Corporation took office, with José Montelongo as mayor.
"The procedure for the appointment was omitted," according to the mayoress
In her decree, Eva de Anta argues that this appointment "does not comply with the provisions established" by the Civil Service, "as the procedure for appointing the secretary position has been omitted." Therefore, last Friday, the 10th, she addressed this body of the Canarian Government to make another appointment proposal, so that Pilar Machín will occupy that position.
However, the decree already invalidates the appointment of Francisco Javier López and designates Pilar Machín as accidental secretary "until a resolution is issued by the General Directorate of Public Function of the Government of the Canary Islands."
In addition, while waiting for this body to formally pronounce, an appeal for "optional reconsideration" or a contentious-administrative appeal can also be filed in the courts against this decision of the mayoress.