The mayor of Tinajo, Jesús Machín, has not said what result he gave in the breathalyzer test in which he tested positive after being involved in a traffic accident. However, in statements on Radio Lanzarote- Onda Cero, he has stated that he "felt well" to drive and that he had only had "a few beers". "I remember three," he said.
Despite the fact that he himself accepted an agreement with the Prosecutor's Office and has been sentenced to a fine of 1,000 euros and eight months of driving ban, as revealed, Machín believes that his accident may have been the result of "a fainting spell", which he has blamed on the fact that he had also taken medication.
"I take Pritor for tension and Bromazepam, and for back pain, which I will have to operate on sooner rather than later, I also take an anti-inflammatory. Apart from that, the previous week I had gone to Yaiza because I had a cold and they sent me a syrup and some sachets. That's what I had taken," he detailed.
According to what he said, he was returning from the house of councilor Luis Pérez, from a work meeting, when he had the accident, and it was there that he had "a few beers". "I was not partying anywhere or in any bar, I swear by the most sacred thing," said the mayor of Tinajo, who said he does not remember the moment of the accident.
"I don't remember that piece of the journey, which will be about 70, 80 or 100 meters. I remember the previous and the subsequent, but I don't remember that piece at any time," he said.
He says he will not resign and will run again in 2023
As a result of the crash, he explained that he received the "impact" of the airbags "in the face", which left him "convalescent and stunned". "It took me a while to recover, because that also gives off some powders, some gases, which did a lot of damage to my throat," he said.
However, the mayor of Tinajo has stated that he is already physically well, although "not" morally. And he has insisted that he feels "repentant" and "ashamed". He has even stated that he had "considered resigning" although, after having received the support of his party, he has confirmed that he will not do so. In fact, he has announced that he plans to repeat as a candidate for Mayor in the 2023 elections. "That's what they asked me in my committee yesterday," he said.
In addition, he has responded to the spokesperson for the PSOE in Tinajo, Begoña Hernández, who considers that Jesús Machín is "unable" to continue occupying the mayoralty after being convicted. "She says that I am not qualified to be mayor, but that's what she says," Machín said, insisting that he has already asked for "forgiveness" and has promised that "it will not happen again." "She is free to say what she wants. I, in the opposite case, if it had happened to her or another councilor, the first thing I would have done is call and worry about her health and her family," he added in his response to the socialist.
"In the 32 years that I have been doing this, my reputation has been impeccable in all aspects and I have never had a problem like this. I have been in meals with colleagues, with many people, and I think they have always seen me as very responsible and without any problem," said Jesús Machín. "I think the decision is up to my people and the people know me. I have apologized to my people and they have the opportunity in 2023 to decide whether I continue or not," he added.
"I didn't want to make my colleagues sit down to testify against or in favor"
Regarding why he decided to reach an agreement with the Prosecutor's Office if the hospital analysis had given him a negative result, according to what he says, Machín pointed out that he did so because he "did not" want to "make" his colleagues "sit down" in a trial to "testify against or in favor".
"I don't want to compromise anyone to that and I assumed my responsibility," said Jesús Machín, who believes that the Local Police officers acted "as professionals" and "did their job." "And that is one of the things that led me not to want to sit down to say their opinion and mine," he said.
On the other hand, the mayor of Tinajo has stated that he himself has taken charge and paid for the repair of the wall he crashed into and not the City Council. "The piece of wall that I knocked down, I fixed it myself with the people from my company," he said.
