"It is not true that I have negotiated on the sidelines. It is not true that I have personal interests. What is true is that democracy rules." This is how emphatically Ramón Bermúdez, acting president of the PIL, responded to the accusations of Laureano Álvarez, who, after resigning as Secretary of Organization, has claimed that Bermúdez negotiated government pacts "behind the party's back" and has accused him of acting out of "personal interests," including getting an advisory position in the Cabildo.
"Ramón has not negotiated anything, Ramón will not continue in politics, because I was not elected. I have already requested my return to work, to my teaching position," Bermúdez replied, dismissing that he has "any personal interest." He did so before questions from the media at the press conference in which he presented the alliance of the PIL with Unidos por Yaiza to govern in the southern Consistory. "The decision was made in a political council that I chaired last night," he said in this regard. "With the members, we make decisions participated by all, not as before that were imposed on us," he stressed. "A majority decision was made, which is my way of working," he insisted.
Regarding the situation of the PIL, Bermúdez has assured that it is in a "period of transition" in which, he says, "things are going to change." "We are going to look forward, to learn from mistakes so as not to commit them again. While I am here, the Council will meet and democratically vote. The majority rules, not personal decisions," he added.
Ramón Bermúdez stopped to explain his meeting with CC and PSOE this Thursday, after Laureano Álvarez stated that in that meeting they had "divided areas" and that it occurred "behind the back" of the negotiating committee and the rest of the PIL members. "Coalición Canaria and the Socialist Party called me. I was in a cafeteria; when they arrived, they told me that they had made a distribution of areas and which ones they had for a third party. I told them 'you leave it to me', I took it to the party and I did not sign or authorize any agreement," Bermúdez explained, emphasizing that everything was "voted on in the Political Council" that the party held after the meeting.
"Waiting for a response" from CC and PSOE to their alternative proposal
According to the acting president of the PIL, after receiving the proposal from CC and PSOE, he presented an alternative option to the party in its Political Council "on the fly." "We submitted the proposal to a vote and, except for Laureano's vote, it was approved almost unanimously," he said, brandishing the sheet in which that proposition was reflected and appealing to "transparency."
"Something very important that Laureano did not say is that Tomás Fajardo, Laureano Álvarez, and, whenever he wanted, also Ramón Bermúdez were authorized in the negotiating committee," he pointed out. Bermúdez has also revealed that after the discrepancies with the former Secretary of Organization, that committee was "dissolved" and a new one has been formed consisting of "the president and the eight elected officials."
According to what he has related, the proposal approved by the Political Council of the PIL was sent to the negotiators of Coalición Canaria and the Socialist Party, but they have not yet obtained a response. "We are waiting, there is still nothing closed," he assured.
That proposition included that the government pact with nationalists and socialists be "global" and that, in addition to the Arrecife City Council, the PIL be part of the governments of the Island Council and the consistories of San Bartolomé and Haría. Also, a change in the areas that were offered to them in Arrecife, since he has stated that "the people who are going to work do not feel comfortable in them." "In addition, there are other things that we do not understand," he added.
"We prefer a global pact, but we are open to everything"
Bermúdez's proposal to CC and PSOE, which he himself has explained, includes that the PIL obtain the second deputy mayorship in Arrecife, and the Local Development agency "with Culture or something more" for one of the councilors and "the fifth deputy mayorship, plus representation in the Port Authority and Roads and Works or Parks and Gardens or Cleaning" for the other elected official.
In the Cabildo, according to that proposal, the PIL requests a "second or third vice-presidency" and also a councilorship of "Employment, Energy, Commerce or European Affairs." "It raises what the counselor feels most comfortable with," Bermúdez pointed out.
As for San Bartolomé, the islanders request the second deputy mayorship and Social Welfare, since, as the president of the PIL has stressed, they believe it is the best option, since "Yessica Pérez is a dentist." For Haría they ask for "a deputy mayorship and an area."
As for whether that global pact is indisputable or whether they would accept other proposals, Bermúdez affirms that they are "open to everything." "If they make a counteroffer, it is studied and can be modified, but we prefer it to be global as much as possible," he nuanced. "Let them explore the proposal and, if they don't like it, let them explore other avenues," Bermúdez said, stressing that they are not "desperate" and that "all" the elected officials of the PIL "have their personal lives resolved and none need politics" as a way to obtain income.
Regarding the pact with the socialists in Arrecife, Bermúdez has admitted that "the PIL has had serious differences with the PSOE." "Apart from the indictment, the citizens spoke and knew that Montelongo was indicted, but it is the most voted list," he added later about the socialist candidate and his indictment in the Montecarlo case.
