In Granada, December began with a rare calm, but the very next day, the political life of the Socialists (PSOE) in the province turned into a series of high-profile events. In just one week, the party faced several crises: resignations, internal disagreements, mutual accusations, and even criminal complaints. Party veterans admit they can’t recall such a turbulent period in recent years.
The first alarm came with the resignation of the vice president of the provincial branch and mayor of Armilla, Loli Cañavate. She decided to leave her party position to focus on managing the city. Almost simultaneously, sharp political conflicts erupted in two municipalities—Pinos Puente and Nevada—leading to the filing of two motions of no confidence.
Uprising in Nevada
In the small town of Nevada, home to just over a thousand residents, events have taken an unexpected turn. Five socialist councilors broke with their own colleague — Mayor Dolores Pastor, who has been on medical leave since March. Despite their overwhelming majority on the council, the party decided to replace its leader. Pastor admitted she hadn’t spoken with fellow party members for months and only learned of plans to oust her after receiving an official notification. Party insiders say the decision was necessary to regain control of the municipality, claiming it had been left without leadership. Most local PSOE members supported the mayor’s removal, pointing out that Pastor hasn’t lived in the town for some time. She refused to resign voluntarily, citing health issues.
Partnership disagreements
In Pinos-Puente, where the socialists governed alongside representatives from the Izquierda Unida (IU), the coalition suddenly collapsed. Two IU councilors joined forces with opposition conservatives from the Partido Popular (PP) and an independent candidate to oust socialist mayor Enrique Medina. Within IU, the decision sparked sharp criticism; disciplinary proceedings were even initiated against those involved. Medina himself believes personal ambitions and a thirst for power, not politics, are to blame. He also pointed out that the new mayor’s father orchestrated a similar power shift back in 2007. IU members, meanwhile, accuse the socialists of breaking the coalition agreement and lacking dialogue.
Unexpected resignations
In Armilla, one of the province’s largest cities, Loli Cañavate unexpectedly announced her resignation as deputy secretary of the provincial chapter of PSOE. She explained her decision as a desire to fully dedicate herself to serving the city. Party leadership saw nothing suspicious in her move, noting that the decision was made in the interests of the municipality. However, the timing, coinciding with other events, has raised questions among observers.
AI scandal and investigation
In Cúllar, the situation has gone beyond political intrigue. Mayor Ana Belén Martínez turned to the Civil Guard after AI-generated images discrediting her appeared online. One depicted her in a sexual manner, while another showed her in a coffin. Martínez is convinced that political rivals are not behind the incident and notes support from all parties in the municipality. She has called on women not to hesitate to contact law enforcement in similar situations.
Meanwhile, in Maracena, former mayor Berta Linares—now working with the socialists—has found herself at the center of a corruption probe. The Civil Guard questioned the origins of funds that allowed her to pay off her mortgage early, put down a large deposit on property, and purchase an expensive car. Investigators have also suggested expanding the inquiry to include former mayor Noel López Linares. The party has so far refrained from commenting on the matter.
Pre-election Tension
All of this is happening alongside preparations for the upcoming regional elections in Andalusia, scheduled for this spring. The PSOE leadership in Granada believes that the series of conflicts and scandals is tied to the election campaign and internal competition. Despite this, party leaders insist that the organization remains united and ready to face new challenges.
In case you didn’t know, PSOE (the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party) is one of Spain’s oldest and largest political forces. In Andalusia, and Granada in particular, the party has traditionally held a strong position, but in recent years it has faced internal disagreements and pressure from the opposition. Internal party conflicts, resignations, and investigations could impact the organization’s image ahead of these important elections. Still, PSOE’s leadership says it intends to maintain unity and continue fighting for voters’ trust.
