Giuseppe Signorino: “AMF waging a dirty war against me, led by Juan Cabrera”

Signorino demands that the mayor of Antigua strip Juan Cabrera of the Works and Services portfolio because of his “nefarious management”

The apparent calm in the Antigua Town Hall erupted after statements from the councilor for Commerce and Accessibility. Giuseppe Signorino openly accused the Works and Services councilor, Juan Cabrera (AMF), of sabotaging his work, blocking the installation of Christmas lighting and running a campaign of harassment against him.

“A dirty war is being waged from AMF against me, led by the councilor for Works and Services, Juan Cabrera,” he told the program La Voz de Fuerteventura on Radio Insular.

According to Signorino, the conflict began with a deliberate obstruction of the Christmas‑lights installation. The lighting ceremony took place on Sunday, yet the councilor was dissatisfied despite the significant investment made.

• The municipality allocated €20,000 for Christmas décor and an additional €60,000 for renting the lighting equipment, which, he noted, generates 30 % of the town’s commercial turnover.
• Out of the €200,000 budget for his department, €80,000 were spent on the lighting project—almost €20,000 more than the previous fiscal year.

Planned work

Signorino says he requested logistical support months in advance. On July 28 he sent an official letter asking for tools, machinery and personnel for the lighting ceremony scheduled for November 30.

“Clearly, the response was silence; when you get no answer, you assume everything is proceeding smoothly,” he said.

A October 13 deadline was set to start the installation “with enough time.” The situation escalated when a booth from a previous event remained occupying the main square, preventing the placement of a key lighting element. After several formal letters, the booth was finally removed only after the mayor intervened directly.

The lighting ceremony finally took place on November 30, intended as a showcase for residents and visitors. Instead, it became a source of criticism for Signorino, who had to improvise to avoid a disastrous display. He lamented that “two containers full of material were still left… when the square should have been completely filled.” The event “went ahead, but it went badly,” he said.

“Nefarious management” and blocked services

Signorino’s criticism extended to the areas overseen by Cabrera. He argued that the deterioration is evident and felt daily by citizens:

“We have a pitiful waste collection, non‑existent maintenance, and parks and gardens I can’t even begin to count.”

In response, Signorino announced he would submit a formal request to the mayor, Matías Peña:

“This week I will draft a letter… officially asking that the delegation be removed.”

He proposes that the responsibilities be transferred either to the mayor himself or to another councilor, stressing that his motive is “for the people of the town and for the whole municipality,” not personal gain.

Signorino claims Cabrera’s management is directly harming citizens and tarnishing the council’s image:

“We are tired of tolerating someone who seems indifferent; the only thing he cares about is his own comfort.”

He also accused the councilor of using municipal services arbitrarily, asserting that Cabrera “must have everything under his control because he believes that by currying favor with the right and the left, people will vote for him.”

The ball now lies with Mayor Matías Peña, who must decide whether to heed Signorino’s demand or maintain the current municipal structure. Signorino vowed not to stay silent:

“I am here to say everything that is happening.”

Despite the harsh rhetoric, Signorino ruled out a break‑up of the municipal government. He dismissed rumors of a motion of no‑confidence, saying the numbers simply do not add up:

“There have been many rumors of a censure motion… but the math doesn’t work,” he noted, highlighting the pivotal role of the sole CONTIGO‑party councilor in Peña’s calculations.

Management balance: limited budget and missed European funding opportunities

In his management report, Signorino emphasized that Commerce and Accessibility have remained especially active despite tight finances. He argued that a simple review of actions “from day one to today” reveals progress compared with previous periods.

• The Accessibility portfolio operates with an annual budget of €40,000, which was used to fund a ramp providing access to Playa de El Castillo, inaugurated on Wednesday after years of local demand.

• Cultural projects—such as creating art spaces modeled after those in Málaga or Milan—have not achieved the expected impact:

  “There have been initiatives, but we haven’t seen them truly energize the community.”

He acknowledged that innovative ideas are possible, but “with so little money you can’t do more.” Nevertheless, he proudly claimed:

“Everything I’m doing with €120,000 feels like a million.”

Regarding external financing, Signorino admitted the town is missing out on European funds because the required anti‑fraud plan has not yet been approved. Without that plan, “there are no funds.” He added that the council is overwhelmed with emergency tasks, suffers from severe understaffing, and “the things that need to be done are not being done.”