The PSOE of Lanzarote demands that the president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort (CC), require Ángel Vázquez (PP) to hand over his councilor's seat and leave the insular government. The socialists consider that "removing him solely from his responsibility at the head of the Centers of Art, Culture, and Tourism, while he retains his seat and the Secretariat of the Governing Council, shows that the president continues to avoid assuming the political consequences of what happened".
For the PSOE, attempting to consider the matter closed with this measure constitutes "a mockery of the citizens, since Vázquez will retain his status as a councilor and will continue to participate with a voice and vote in the plenary decisions." For the socialists, "the seriousness of the events makes it untenable for Vázquez to continue participating in the decisions of the Cabildo and for Betancort to attempt to settle his political responsibility with his dismissal from the head of the Tourist Centers."
The deputy spokesperson for the Socialist Group in the Cabildo, Ariagona González, maintains that the decision adopted is far from responding to the seriousness of the case. "It is politically and morally untenable for Vázquez to continue being part of the government after having signed the resolution of the procedure in which his own son obtained a permanent position in the public entity he directed. Betancort must demand that he hand over his seat. Keeping him on his team means accepting conduct incompatible with the exemplary behavior required of a public office," she states.
The PSOE recalls that it was the media who uncovered the facts and that, since last October 1st, the party demanded Vázquez's immediate dismissal and explanations from the president. Since then, Betancort requested a report and conveyed to the Popular Party the demand to act, ultimately limiting the response to his departure from the Tourist Centers.
"Betancort has used the request for a report to buy time and transfer to the PP the decisions that he should have made as president. He has acted as if the areas managed by that party were foreign to his government. He presides over the entire Cabildo and must answer for what happens in it. The responsibility to act against nepotism is also his," points out González.
"This has happened within the government of Oswaldo Betancort, in a public company dependent on the institution he presides over. It is his government that has allowed inadmissible practices and it is he who must respond. He cannot hide behind the PP nor pretend that taking an area away from Vázquez will solve the problem," maintains the spokesperson.
The PSOE acknowledges that the resignation from the seat is a personal decision by Vázquez, but insists that this does not allow the president to evade his responsibility. "What message does someone who is preparing for an opposition or waiting for a public employment opportunity receive if a counselor signs their son's position and remains in government without their party or the president demanding they hand over their seat? It is being normalized that using institutions to benefit one's own family has no political consequences. If this is allowed, where is the limit set?" warns González.
Finally, the party maintains, furthermore, "the demand for an extraordinary plenary session for Betancort to explain what happened" and the decisions adopted. "Institutions belong to the citizens and must guarantee equal opportunities. Lanzarote deserves a president who acts forcefully against nepotism. Betancort's response remains insufficient," she concludes.
Add La Voz de Lanzarote as a preferred Google source.
Stay informed with the latest current news.