Job for the boy

ALGECIRAS (By David Eade in his Discover Cádiz blog) Isn’t politics wonderful! Whilst you were all busy looking over your shoulder at La Línea there have been political ructions across the bay in Algeciras. Out is the socialist mayor Tomás Herrera (photo) and his place will be taken by Isabel Beneroso or Diego Sánchez until the elections next June. Standing in his place will be Rafael España whose adoption saw Herrera stomp off. Well, that was Tuesday’s news because the PSOE family has hurried around to ensure Tomás Herrera is not wanting for a job. Family in Spain is everything so the president of the Andalucía government, José Antonio Griñán raced to the rescue to shoo him in to a new post. The unemployed level in Spain stands at around the 20 per cent mark – how those on the dole or receiving no benefit must wish they were a PSOE ex-mayor needing work.>So instead of being mayor of Algeciras Tomás Herrera now has a new title: he is the Andalucía government’s sub-delegate in the Campo de Gibraltar. It was only on Sunday that the local executive of PSOE in Algeciras opted for the political veteran, apparently being 72 makes you a veteran these days, Rafael España.


The word from Sevilla is that Herrera is now Griñán’s strong man in the Campo de Gibraltar and his nomination is said to be an act of support by the Andalucía executive.


On Tuesday the councillor to the president of the regional government, Mar Moreno, made an official announcement and publish Herrera’s post in the Andalucía bulletin (BOJA). This will enable Herrera to take over the position which will require him to stand down as a councillor and for PSOE to replace him with another candidate from the last election list.


Now Herrera is identified as being part of the team in the Griñán project and will be at the disposition of PSOE which will now pay him for his loyalty.

It is said in socialist circles that the prompt appointment of Herrera is a shot across the bows of the so-called “clan de Alcalá de los Gazules” but especially the president of the Diputación de Cádiz, Francisco González Cabaña and the new candidate for mayor of Algeciras Rafael España.


It is said that Griñán wants to see a regeneration of the socialist party in Cádiz province and Cabaña and España are seen as yesterday’s men whilst Herrera is viewed as the man who will lead the Andalucía leader’s project forward. España may have won at the weekend but it could be an empty triumph.


Herrera is being hailed by Griñán loyalists as having been a great mayor. He will now be breathing down the neck of Algeciras from his regional government post. In the meantime España will lead the socialists in the port town in to the next local elections where he will face the Partido Popular’s –José Ignacio Landaluce.