María Dolores Corujo, a member of Congress and Secretary General of the PSOE in Lanzarote, has filed a formal complaint with the Secretariat of the Cabildo of Lanzarote against President Oswaldo Betancort for repeatedly violating the agreement made by the Speaker’s Council. This agreement, unanimously approved in the Plenary on 11 July 2023, stipulates that ordinary sessions must be held on the last Friday of each month at 09:00 hours.

In a statement issued this Friday, Corujo accused Betancort of systematically breaching this agreement by scheduling plenary sessions at the same times as his parliamentary activities in Congress, preventing her from attending the Cabildo due to scheduling conflicts. “My representation in the Plenary is the result of a democratic mandate. What Oswaldo Betancort is doing is obstructing my ability to fulfil that role, silencing the candidate from the Socialist Group and avoiding political debate,” she asserted.

Legal Grounds for the Complaint

Corujo also noted that the approved plenary calendar was adopted in accordance with Article 72.3 of the Organic Regulation of the Corporation and Article 46 of the Law 7/1985 on the Bases of Local Regime. Any amendments to this schedule require the agreement of the Plenary and consultation with the Speaker’s Council. “This is not a matter of oversight or a scheduling error. It is a deliberate and ongoing manoeuvre to render a group that has equal representation to his invisible,” she stated.

Accusations of Political Cowardice

Corujo accused the president of acting “with political cowardice, avoiding public debate and using his position to obstruct the exercise of my rights as an elected councillor.” She further warned that this behaviour constitutes a violation of fundamental rights, specifically the right to political participation as recognised in Article 23 of the Spanish Constitution.

“He is using the institution as if it were his personal property, demonstrating a complete lack of democratic ethics. But the Cabildo does not belong to him; it belongs to all the people of Lanzarote, including those who voted for the Socialist Party,” Corujo emphasised.

Call for Immediate Compliance

The Socialist Group demands immediate compliance with the plenary agreement, ensuring that sessions occur on the established dates and times, thereby upholding institutional plurality and the democratic rights of all elected officials. They have warned that failure to do so will compel them to take further action.