Javier Armas, leader of the Agrupación Herreña Independiente (AHI), was the candidate with the most votes in the elections on May 28 in the Island Council of El Hierro. This Monday he has been sworn in as president. But he will last two weeks in office: as long as it takes to debate and go ahead with the motion of censure presented today against him and that will make his brother, Alpidio Armas, head of the insular PSOE list and president of the Cabildo during the last legislature.
Of the 11,423 inhabitants of the island, it was the Armas brothers who ended up fighting for political power this year. Alpidio (PSOE) was already president of the Cabildo between 2011 and 2015, and was again in 2019. Javier (AHI) had been vice president of the Cabildo between 2007 and 2011, and from then until 2019 he held public positions in the Canarian Administration.
The two brothers highlighted their good relationship in the campaign despite the political difference. But the polls pushed them into a devilish scenario. The AHI of Javier Armas was the most voted list, which causes the automatic investiture according to the insular electoral regulations. He obtained 1,574 votes and 4 of the 13 seats in dispute in the Cabildo. He won the PSOE of his brother Alpidio, who stayed in three seats, by only 21 ballots.
Together, the Armas brothers would have had enough seven seats for an absolute majority. But the brotherly pact found sticks in the wheels. The main one, that the Independent Herreña Group joined the autonomous government agreement that involves the Canary Islands Coalition -with whom it has historically been in a coalition-, the Popular Party and the Gomera Socialist Group.
That pact, which was confirmed on June 7, had its insular response eight days later. On June 15, the socialist Alpidio Armas met in a forest on the island the representative of the local Asamblea Herreña party – three seats – and that of Izquierda Unida – one seat – to sign the future presentation of a motion of no confidence. Which will be immediate.
This Monday, minutes after Javier Armas gave his investiture speech, with Alpidio right behind him, PSOE, AH and IU registered the motion of no confidence that will change one brother for another in the island’s presidency.
“I am very excited, I am excited that the majority of the people from El Hierro have supported me and have the possibility of contributing what I can with my work to change and improve the island of El Hierro,” Javier said at his inauguration, without referring to the perspective of the motion of censure.
His brother did, who then intervened to defend that the pact signed ten days ago was “the only possible agreement that could be reached” despite assuming the “cost” of presenting the motion.
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