The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Pedro San Ginés, has admitted that he had a relationship with the daughter of the owner of the historic building that the first institution has acquired for 1.6 million euros in Fajardo street, in Arrecife. Yes, he wanted to make it clear that the relationship began in January 2013, when three plenary agreements in 2012 already supported this purchase. "The relationship is subsequent, after all the plenary agreements. It is a consequence of, and not the other way around", the president defended, in an interview on Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero.
"It is farcical that one has to talk about his private life, but I know it is in all the circles and in all the corners. My conscience is immaculate and calm", he insisted. The president has preferred to explain this issue and be able to clarify it because he is aware that "the idea that the purchase is a consequence of a link with the family that owns the house has been fueled". "It is normal for things to sink in, because two things are true: a house has been acquired and there was a relationship at the time the acquisition takes place. Not anymore, by the way", he clarified.
In this sense, San Ginés has explained that the negotiation for this house, on the initiative of the Heritage department, began in "September 2012". "We visited the house. At that time I do not know any member of the family unit nor do I know of their existence. We met with the owner. In November, the beginning of the file is taken to the Governing Council. I do not know any member of the family either, beyond the conversation with the lady. In December, the budgets are approved and 420,000 euros are enabled. I do not know any member of the family either", he stated.
San Ginés has assured that his relationship with the daughter of the owner began after these agreements, in "January 2013". At that time, three plenary agreements can no longer be undone, nor would it have been fair, nor serious and could have had absolutely inappropriate legal consequences".
The president of the Cabildo has admitted that if the relationship or the "family bond" with the owners of this property had begun before the plenary agreements, "then it would not have been aesthetic or ethical to undertake the acquisition". "Even people who love me have doubted, until I explained it to them. No one can know of the existence of any type of relationship before January 2013", the president insisted.
Criticism of the general secretary of the PSOE
On the other hand, the president has also valued the words of the general secretary of the PSOE in Lanzarote, María Dolores Corujo, who assured that it was not the time to acquire this building and opted to allocate all the resources to employment and social policies. "If she does them as a citizen I understand them, because perhaps things have not been understood. But a mayor should know that this is financed with a loan, which cannot be used for social policies because it would be illegal and Intervention would prohibit it", he stated.
In addition, the president wanted to make it clear that the proposal to acquire this historic building did not come from the government group, but from "those responsible for Heritage, who raised the need to have an Archaeological Museum and the opportunity to acquire the property". "What is not very elegant is that other public officials are questioning the decisions that are adopted in an institution. I ask the PSOE of the Cabildo for the opinion of the PSOE in the government pact. I have not asked nor will I ask its general secretary for her opinion", he pointed out, referring to María Dolores Corujo.
San Ginés has also pointed out that the Cabildo will not allocate 1.6 million now to buy this building, but that it will be done "in nine moments and without interest".
