Noelia Arroyo (Cartagena, 1979) was elected mayor of Cartagena for the first time in 2021. She replaced Ana Belén Castejón in office, after a government pact between PP, PSOE and Ciudadanos, through which the first two formations equally shared the baton of command.
It was an example of consensus, dialogue and understanding between parties. Two years later, in 2023, Arroyo won the elections and was inaugurated, after being the most voted list in Cartagena, although without an absolute majority. The internal crisis of Vox has led two dissident councilors of the formation, Diego Salinas and Beatriz Sánchez del Álamo, to have allied with PSOE, Movimiento Ciudadano (MC) and Sí Cartagena, to present a motion of censure last Tuesday.
Arroyo is concerned about this situation, which she describes as “an assault” on the City Council, takes pride in the achievements achieved in his municipality to date and ensures that the Consistory’s accounts -one of the reasons given by the protagonists of this political maneuver- are healthy and, furthermore, in surplus. 72 hours after this surprising news that has shaken the regional political board, the first mayor of the Port City speaks to LA RAZÓN in this interview, in which she analyzes and evaluates what happened.
How are you personally and how are you living the last few days? You were seen excited when you were applauded by political, business and military authorities in your city.
I am very grateful for the support and for the gestures of support and encouragement that I am receiving. I especially appreciate them, because I interpret them as gestures in favor of Cartagena. It is the reaction of citizens, neighbors, businessmen and people of all origins, also people who have not voted for me, who revolt at this situation, because they know that it harms Cartagena. I am very concerned about the slowdown they may give to the development of the municipality, but I am also determined to protect their interests no matter what happens and with all the energy, against those who are only willing to defend their personal interests.
Do you consider the baton lost on June 2, or do you think there is room for negotiation?
The motion would not succeed if the councilors acted consistently. It is not coherent that Vox’s number one allows Pedro Sánchez to keep the votes of his party in Cartagena. It is not coherent that the Socialist Party relies on people it has called far-right. And it is not coherent that MC and Sí Cartagena sign a motion that the founders of their own parties consider nonsense against Cartagena. What happens on day 2 depends on what those councilors decide.
Why hasn’t Councilor Sánchez del Álamo been dismissed yet? Do you think you could reconsider your position?
We agreed to have a conversation, before irreparable decisions were made. And I am a person of my word. It is in your power to prevent these decisions and their damage from being irreparable for the city of Cartagena. Those who vote for this motion of censure will not be able to hide forever; sooner or later they will have to give explanations to so many people from Cartagena who do not understand anything. Starting with the people of Cartagena who made them councillors.
The Cartagena PSOE says that the motion of censure is endorsed by Ferraz and Princesa, and draws an image of “economic bankruptcy” of the City Council. Is it real?
The latest official data is very clear. In the first quarter of the year we have achieved a surplus of almost 4 million euros. We have reduced the debt by 3 million and this year we are going to reduce it by 13 million, more than a million euros per month. In addition, we have around 50 million euros mobilized in investments, we have lowered rates, we have made nursery schools free and in Cartagena you do not pay to open a business. That’s the reality. It is true that the Government of Pedro Sánchez is trying to suffocate the Popular Party councils. But here, the supposed economic bankruptcy is just an excuse to justify a political maneuver.
How is Vox going to explain its alliance with the PSOE to its voters? For them, the end seems to justify the means.
Vox’s votes are going to put Sanchismo in the Cartagena Government. They are going to give oxygen to a party hit by corruption cases and the courts. While Abascal asks for a motion of censure to throw Sánchez out of Moncloa, they support a motion of censure to put Sánchez in the City Council. That’s what they’re going to have to explain. And I think it’s going to be very difficult for them.
What can Cartagena lose if the motion goes ahead? Ballesta was evicted from La Glorieta with the same maneuver and later won by an absolute majority.
Cartagena may lose a year of growth. This amalgam of councilors has been facing each other in the Plenary for three years. It does not have a common project, it does not have the capacity to develop it and it does not have the time to do so. Right now, large investments are underway in heritage recovery, a security improvement program, a municipal strategy to generate affordable housing, the urban integration project of the entire dock and a key industrial transformation for the future of the municipality. All of that is left up in the air with a senseless maneuver. What is at stake is not a baton of command. What is at stake is whether Cartagena continues to advance, or is paralyzed by the personal interests of a few.