A significant controversy has erupted in Tinajo following comments made by the Mayor, Jesús Machín, of the Canary Coalition, during a municipal session. He revealed that his council has repeatedly financed hotel stays for presumed aggressors in domestic violence incidents with the rationale of avoiding their detention when children are involved. Machín stated that local police notify him of situations where they must choose between leaving the aggressor at large or making an arrest.

These assertions were brought to light during an extraordinary plenary meeting on twenty-eight August, following a query from Begoña Hernández, the Socialist Party spokesperson on the council, regarding the payments made for these hotel stays. Machín acknowledged these actions, justifying them due to concerns surrounding children’s welfare: “There are children involved. I say to them: ‘Well, as we have done on other occasions, send them to the hotel. Some individuals stay for one night, others for four’.”

In response, the PSOE has deemed Machín’s statements a public admission of institutional negligence, labelling the approach dangerous and insensitive to the plight of victims. Hernández stated that providing accommodation for an aggressor at the public’s expense, while the suffering of victims is downplayed, is indicative of institutional complicity with domestic violence. They are now demanding an urgent review of municipal protocols alongside a full explanation of the financial decisions made, including details on who approved the payments and whether technical reports validate such actions.

Irene Montero, the former Minister of Equality and current Member of the European Parliament for Podemos, has also condemned the Mayor’s actions. Taking to social media platform X, she argued that it is the institutional duty of mayors to protect women rather than shield male aggressors. Montero concluded her message with a call for authorities to cease endangering women’s lives.