ARMANDO SANTANA – THIRD VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE CABILDOS OF LANZAROTE
In just two years in office, the Arrecife City Council has amassed over 1,100 objections from the municipal intervention office. This figure is not merely a bureaucratic detail; it reflects a style of governance where technical warnings are treated as mere obstacles to be avoided.
Recent Controversies
The most recent, and perhaps the most notable, example is the contract for Alejandro Fernández’s concert. The auditor was clear, detailed, and emphatic in her report, explaining step by step why this expenditure should not be authorised and outlining the risks to the municipal finances. Nevertheless, the objection was overridden and the event proceeded as if nothing had occurred.
A Growing Pattern
This issue is not an isolated incident but part of a broader trend. When objections become routine and overriding them a mechanical act, the message to the public is devastating: “Control exists, but we do as we please.”
The role of the intervention office is not decorative. It does not exist to hinder or obstruct political whims but to ensure that public funds are managed in accordance with the law, rigorously, and with due respect for the taxpayer’s money. Each objection lifted is like an alarm bell, a warning that something does not comply with legal standards or proper procedure.
When these reports are systematically ignored, the issue is not just with the auditor’s role but also the credibility of the institution itself. What is the point of discussing transparency, responsible management, or respect for public funds if it then becomes common practice to disregard the technical assessments that should act as a check on political power?
Public Concerns
As a resident of Arrecife and a public official, I am greatly concerned about what is happening in my city’s council. I know many residents share this sentiment. I sincerely hope a way can be found to foster understanding while respecting the mechanisms of control and accountability that are essential to maintaining trust with the public. Each objection disregarded without substantial political justification is not merely an act of arrogance towards the intervention office but also a blow to the confidence of the people of Arrecife in their leaders.
The question is unavoidable: who controls those who should be controlled?
