A scandal has erupted in the municipality of Tinajo, located in the Canary Islands, after the town’s mayor, Jesus Machin, admitted that the administration had repeatedly paid for hotel stays for individuals suspected of domestic violence. According to him, these measures were taken to prevent arrests in situations involving family conflicts.
This came to light during an extraordinary city council meeting held on August 28. The issue of hotel expenses was raised by socialist representative Begona Hernandez. Machin explained that when police encountered incidents of domestic violence, he would receive calls asking for a decision: either to isolate the man or have him detained. In such situations, he said, suspects were temporarily accommodated in hotels at the municipality’s expense—sometimes for one night, sometimes for several days.
The publication of this information sparked a strong reaction from the local branch of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). Party representatives believe such practices indicate poor decision-making and pose risks, as well as a disregard for the protection of victimized women. According to the socialists, such actions could endanger the lives and health of victims of violence.
Begoña Hernández stated that covering the suspects’ accommodation expenses from the public budget cannot be considered an acceptable solution. She emphasized that such measures not only fail to protect victims, but also undermine trust in government authorities. The socialists are demanding an immediate review of municipal domestic violence response protocols, as well as clarification regarding the grounds for hotel payments and the availability of corresponding documentation.
Transparency in the use of funds is also being questioned. PSOE representatives are insisting on information about who authorized the payments, what procedures were followed, and whether there are official expert assessments. In their view, city residents have the right to know how public resources are used and whether such decisions are justified.
The criticism was echoed by former Equality Minister and current Podemos MEP Irene Montero. She stated that the priority of municipal authorities should be ensuring the safety of women, not protecting suspects of violence. Montero stressed that such actions could lead to repeated cases of violence and do not align with the goals of combating discrimination.
The scandal in Tinajo has once again raised questions about the need for clear and transparent procedures when responding to domestic violence cases, as well as the oversight of public spending in Spanish municipalities.
