Everything seems to indicate that the future of the Popular Party councilor in Teguise, Jonás Álvarez, will not be close to the party ranks. The councilor has shown, on Radio Lanzarote - Onda Cero, his surprise at the PP's strategy of requesting the change of spokesperson in the municipality. "The situation has been quite bitter", he acknowledged.
“Neither Ángel Vázquez, nor any external person can change a spokesperson”, Álvarez pointed out, in response to the letter presented by the president of the PP in Teguise for the change of spokesperson. In addition, the councilor assures that this movement “is not within the law”, as he claims the secretary of the Consistory told him.
“We are two PP councilors, and we are within the mixed group with the Podemos colleague, Elsa Betancort”, recalls the popular councilor, who emphasizes that they are the two Popular Party councilors “who decide the PP spokesperson”, while together with the Podemos councilor they choose the spokesperson for the mixed group, which is also him.
“I would even be willing to listen to the committee, in case the spokesperson had to be changed for some strategy”, says the councilor, although he harshly criticizes that “in no case” he has been summoned to any meeting of the committee. However, he does acknowledge that there were two attempts by the new secretary of the Local Committee, Rita Martín. However, Álvarez could not attend both meetings, although he assures that none of them was an intention to “meet the committee”, but only a meeting between the president, the secretary of the Committee and himself.
“Half the time I find out about many things through the press, and that within the party does not lead to any functioning”, criticizes the councilor, although he assures that, for the time being, he remains “spokesperson and public official of the Popular Party in Teguise”.
"Many questions have gone through my head"
“I have a commitment, I put my face in front of the residents of my municipality to ask them for their vote. There were people who got up and went to cast their vote in this case to this person who is speaking to you or to some political acronyms. I think I have to fulfill my responsibility as a public official at least until 2023”, the councilor explained.
Jonás Álvarez maintains that he “wants to continue representing the residents of Teguise”, and that these “guerrilla wars” between party colleagues cause citizens to be “disgusted” with politics. “Then we fill our mouths talking about unity, about working together, and we have had examples, and many this week, that guerrilla wars lead to nothing”, he adds.
Regarding what would happen if the Popular Party asks him to resign as spokesperson and hand over his councilor's seat, Jonás Álvarez has not given a clear answer. “I must admit that many questions have gone through my head”, he pointed out, although he added that he “wants to fulfill the commitment to represent the people”.
“Political representation and fulfilling the commitment weigh heavily. Everything goes very fast in politics, but I must say that representation weighs more”, he points out.
However, he keeps the door open to a possible resignation: “We'll see what may happen”, he says, although he reiterates that he would “like” to finish the legislature, which ends next year 2023.
