The situation in Las Palmas, with its stressful security and cleanliness problems, is affecting the image of southern Gran Canaria. The series of management crises in the capital (evidenced by the resignation of Inmaculada Medina—of the PSOE party—due to corruption) and the economic volatility in tourism have led the Las Palmas tourism sector, based in southern Gran Canaria, to a strategic conclusion: the urgent need for political cohesion that aligns the capital with the island's economic engine. To this end, the People's Party (PP) has been urged to nominate Carlos Ester as its candidate for Mayor of Las Palmas, given that Primero Canarias (Prica) already has its candidate in Las Palmas, Teodoro Sosa, who is mobilizing populist neighborhood supporters while also serving as Vice President of the Island Council.
Southern Gran Canaria, which boasts the highest concentration of tourism capital and hotel investment, considers the lack of coordination and chaos within the Las Palmas City Council a burden that weakens the destination's unique brand. The sector demands not only stability but also a "PP electoral corridor" that aligns the agendas of Las Palmas and the major tourist municipalities. "The capital, as the island's logistical and cultural gateway, must act as a strategic partner, not a source of political instability. This can't be left until January 2027, like the Valleseco case; it needs to be done now because there will be two options for government: the PP or Prica," said a hotelier from Maspalomas this Wednesday.
In this context of demands for order, the name of Carlos Ester, president of the PP in Gran Canaria, has emerged as the sector's preferred candidate. Tourism leaders are openly urging the Popular Party to end the uncertainty and confirm him as their mayoral candidate. The support for Ester is not accidental: "He represents a change to a leadership style detached from the past, where no one should have any support." This is in reference to the former Las Palmas police councilor, Ángel Sabroso, who enjoys the protection of a slot machine operator on Juan Rejón Street.
In business circles in southern Gran Canaria, there is support for Santiago de Armas as an independent candidate on the People's Party (PP) list, given his current phase of stepping down from some responsibilities at Lopesan. "We need to recapture the spirit of 1995 in Las Palmas, which benefited southern Gran Canaria by improving the capital's image," said a businessman from Meloneras, interviewed by Maspalomas24H. The pressure from the business community for a single, already strong PP candidate reflects the need to minimize political risk and ensure that the next municipal administration prioritizes efficiency over ideological disputes, thus guaranteeing profitability and Gran Canaria's global standing as an investment destination.
