Sonia Álamo quits politics, warns it’s a practice many should try

Sonia Álamo Takes a Step Back: “In 2027 I Will Not Run for Any Party”

The island councilor Sonia Álamo is crystal‑clear about her decision. She is stepping away from her political career and confirms she will not stand in the next elections.

“In 2027 I will not run for any party,” she declared, shutting down speculation about possible placements on the lists of various formations that, she says, have offered her support—including Nueva Canarias and the Socialist Party.

The decision, she explains, is the result of a broader reflection on political practice.

“I believe it is an exercise that many people should undertake when they see a certain outcome and do not,” she emphasized, highlighting a reality that only deepens citizens’ disenchantment with the political class.

Álamo, the island councilor for Nueva Canarias—elected through a political agreement between Nueva Canarias, Fuerteventura Avanza, Alternativa Local Por Antigua, and Juntos Por Pájara—offers a personal and political balance of her tenure, marked by moments of emotion.

“I’m very prone to crying,” she admitted when looking back, stressing the learning experience and expressing gratitude to those who have accompanied her. “Primarily gratitude,” she insisted, acknowledging both political colleagues and the technical staff she has worked with.

Her political path has been shaped by difficult decisions and complex contexts. Álamo recalls entering politics in 2019 under the mentorship of Peña Armas, within the framework of Ciudadanos.

“It was a very exciting project, a centrist party with young, eager people,” she noted, later moving to Fuerteventura Avanza.

Fuerteventura Avanza ran in alliance with other parties in the previous elections, leading to her candidacy for the island council alongside the then‑councilor and mayor of Antigua, Matías Peña.

After winning three seats in the 2023 elections and being appointed councilor, relations with her original formation, FA, fractured over a “violent” episode concerning a data‑protection procedure for council staff.

“At certain moments I felt I was not sufficiently protected,” she explained, a feeling that prompted her departure from Peña Armas’s party.

Álamo defends the legitimacy of her council seat, stressing that

“My seat is not from Fuerteventura Avanza; it belongs to the people who placed me there.”

One of the legislature’s key moments was Matías Peña’s decision to join the island’s governing group, excluding his female colleagues, which generated internal tension.

“At first, yes, of course. In fact, there was a lot of tension in the early plenary sessions because of that,” she acknowledged.

Over time, however, relations were restored and institutional stability was achieved. Álamo emphasizes that she has continued her work:

“I have kept working, following a coherent political line, also consensual with Nueva Canarias.”

A Politics Against Perpetual Office‑Holding

Beyond her personal case, Álamo delivers a clear message about the nature of politics. She rejects the professionalization of public offices and the indefinite tenure of politicians.

“Politics cannot be professionalized,” she asserted, adding, “We cannot have politicians who remain in office for many years without change.”

In her view, public officials must know when to step back.

“There comes a moment when a politician must say: my project ends here, or my contribution to the public ends here.”

She also critiques the newly formed local coalition on the island—Fuerteventura Avanza, Juntos Por Pájara, and Asambleas Municipales de Fuerteventura—labeling it “incredible.”

“There are leaders with projects that have nothing to do with each other,” she said, warning that the alliance could have the opposite effect of what its promoters intend.

“I don’t think they will add value,” she concluded.

Cabildo Balance: Stability Compared to the Past

Regarding the management of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, Álamo offers a moderately positive assessment, especially when contrasted with the previous legislature.

“It has been a positive balance compared to the prior term,” she affirmed, recalling the political instability of that period.

She highlights the current climate of calm and institutional collaboration:

“There is a tranquil atmosphere, a climate of collaboration.”

Progress has been made in areas such as water supply and certain infrastructures, though pending issues remain. The councilor points to public transport and environmental protection as top priorities.

“The environment worries us a lot,” she warned.

She denounces the lack of control in natural spaces:

“We have 13 Natural Parks and there is no type of control measure,” she noted, a situation leading to vandalism and incivism. Álamo stresses the need to strengthen surveillance and protect the territory amid population growth and tourism pressure.

A Step Back… With the Door Slightly Open

Álamo is stepping away from active politics, at least in the short term, but does not completely close the door.

“You never know,” she remarked, while reaffirming that her 2027 decision is firm.

For now, she will return to her professional life outside politics, emphasizing the need for distance.

“I prefer to go back to my work and take a certain break,” she concluded with emotion.