Betancuria honors Matías Peña's work after his dismissal from the council

The Betancuria City Council has publicly voiced its support, respect and gratitude to Matías Peña following his removal as the head of the Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries portfolio of the Fuerteventura Cabildo, a decision announced on Friday by the island’s president, Lola García.

In a statement posted on social media, the council highlighted Peña’s contributions:

“He has been a Primary Sector Councillor in Fuerteventura who, from day one, sought to align with the livestock, farming and fishing guilds, always promoting dialogue and unity, and doing everything possible to energize and protect the primary sector.”

The council also expressed bewilderment at the manner of the dismissal:

“We do not understand this abrupt termination, where the councillor himself was not given the chance to learn firsthand the decision made about his future.”

It warned that the move could jeopardize the stability of the department itself, as well as the management of its GDR and Acción Costera groups, creating unnecessary unrest among staff.

The communiqué concluded by reiterating gratitude “for his courteous and harmonious attitude at all times toward the Betancuria City Council.”

Betancuria, led by Enrique Cerdeña (Unidos por Betancuria), is one of only two municipalities on Fuerteventura—alongside Antigua—not aligned with the island‑wide pact signed between Coalición Canaria and the PSOE in the Cabildo. In Antigua, the governing majority is the local party Alternativa Local por Antigua (ALxAN), founded and led by Peña himself. In Betancuria, Cerdeña succeeded Marcelino Cerdeña after his resignation in 2022.

The Political Context of Matías Peña’s Dismissal

Peña’s removal from the Cabildo follows the collapse of the political agreement in the Antigua City Council between the Asamblea Majorera–Coalición Canaria (AM‑CC) and ALxAN, Peña’s own formation.

From the Cabildo and AM‑CC, the dismissal has been linked to this breakdown in municipal collaboration, without citing any specific management failures in the island’s administration. The PSOE, meanwhile, has appealed to the “stability” of the governing pact in the island’s institutions and praised Peña’s “good management” of the primary sector.

It is worth noting that both Peña’s dismissal from the Cabildo and the departure of three Coalición Canaria councillors from Antigua do not affect the overall governability of either institution.