PSOE LEADERSHIP BACKS MARÍN FOR MAYORBy David Eade – Costa del Sol News
The secretary general of PSOE in Ronda, Francisco Cañestro has told a news conference that the directorate of the local party backs the current mayor, Antonio Marín, as its candidate for the post at next year’s municipal elections.
Marín was elected mayor for the Partido Andalucista at the last election but has caused controversy by abandoning the party with his fellow PA councillors and joining PSOE instead. This led to the Comisión de Expertos Independientes del Pacto Antitransfuguismo accusing all eight of being political turncoats in a ruling last December.
There is no doubt that the merger of Marín and his seven fellow former PA councillors has caused disquiet in the ranks of Ronda’s PSOE. The big test will come this Saturday when the 330 party members will vote to endorse or reject the directorate’s decision. Many socialists feel they have been pushed aside by the incomers.
Marín stated on Monday: “Now is the time for political stability in Ronda with an absolute PSOE majority. The town cannot make experiments, it would be catastrophic.
The Partido Andalucista had been in coalition with the Partido Popular after the last local elections. Then Marín surprised everybody by breaking the pact then forming a coalition with PSOE before he and his fellow PA councillors left the party, sit as unattached members of the council but they are all now PSOE members. This left the PA which had been the majority party with no representation at the town hall hence the condemnation of the political turncoat commission.
A few weeks ago an opinion poll showed PSOE destined to form the next administration in Ronda with mayor Antonio Marín the most popular politician. Now a rival poll says the Partido Popular will take eight seats with the Partido Andalucista on four with both forming a coalition. The most popular leader is the PP’s Maripaz Fernández and Antonio Marín trails fourth. If this poll holds true for the 2011 elections then the PA might yet exact political revenge on Marín and leave PSOE with a bloody nose.
DEATH CRASH
A lorry driver died on Monday morning after his vehicle was involved in a head on collision with another lorry on the A-367 as it passes through Cañete la Real. The tragedy happened at 7.25 at km 20 on the busy but narrow road that connects Ronda with Ardales. Traffic was diverted as the road had to be closed till the wreckage was removed.
IN OUT
Ronda has honoured Rafael Díaz with the title of honoured son. The Efe news agency photographer has recorded the town over many years and the images have been seen all over the world. In the same week the honoured son 81-year-old Francisco Garrido passed away. He had also been a journalist and had produced a series of histories of Ronda and the Serranía.
PLANNING EXPLAINED
The Diputación de Málaga is undertaking the drawing up of the new local development plans (PGOUs) for many of the smaller municipalities in the province. Recently the deputy for planning, Cristóbal Guerrero, visited Jubrique, Genalguacil, Algatocín and Júzcar to explain the plans for their municipalities. There will be 70 social housing units in Jubrique, 40 in Genalguacil and 18 in Algatocín and Júzcar.
BACK MOTORWAY
PSOE secretary general in Ronda, Francisco Cañestro, has called on all political parties in the town to back the toll motorway project with the coast. The PP had blasted the announcement as an election ploy but Cañestro insists it will happen, cut travel times from 50 to 22 minutes and create over 5,200 jobs. The 350 million euros project will be privately funded.
PLAIN CLOTHES
Local police in Ronda are to form a plain clothes unit. The six officers will patrol town centre streets with the main objectives being to catch pick pockets and bag snatchers as well as looking out for drugs traffickers. This follows on from the recent announcement of the forming of a dog unit and the town hall says others will also be formed.
TREE ZONE
An arboretum has been created in El Colmenar in Cortes de la Frontera. Almost 143,000 euros has been spent on the zone that will have recreational, educative and sporting uses. The parkland has 71 eucalyptus trees first planted in the middle of the last century with six walking routes. Visitors will be able to consult a series of informative posters on the species.
NATURE GUIDES
A new brochure on the flora and fauna of the Serranía de Ronda has been produced by the town hall showing the biodiversity of the area and including 24 photographs. Also the Andalucía ministry of the environment has produced a guide to the Sierra de Grazalema. This is the third guide in the series which includes Estrecho (Cádiz) and Cabo de Gata (Málaga).
AFRICAN VIEW
Benarrabá in the Serranía de Ronda now has a bird viewing station. It is so high that on a clear day visitors can see the coast of Africa and Gibraltar. Over 40,000 euros has been spent on the centre with view to developing tourism in the area. There are large charts to show visitors what birds can be seen and in what zones.
GOAT WOE
Protests by goat milk producers in Serranía de Ronda and Antequera were halted after talks with Forlactaria and García Baquero – the largest cheese producers were announced. However the angry producers say they’re restarting protests as no progress has been made. They say the cost of producing the milk has risen by 12 per cent whilst their income has dropped by 18 per cent.
