The Popular Party (PP) of A Illa de Arousa, a municipality in Pontevedra with almost 5,000 inhabitants, has readmitted councilor Matías González Cañón, who was the popular candidate in the municipal elections held a year ago. Five days before the elections, González was abruptly removed from the lists after it was revealed that he had a criminal record, a conviction for domestic violence over a decade ago. Despite the media coverage of the conviction during the election period and pressure from the provincial PP leadership for González Cañón to step back, the local party committee decided to support their lead candidate. They agreed that the candidate for the mayoralty would remain unaffiliated within the municipal group and has now been reintegrated into the Popular Party’s ranks. Despite the scandal, González’s results at the polls were better than expected, increasing right-wing support in this Pontevedra locality, a stronghold of the Socialists.
In a statement signed by councilors Tamara Nieto, Rubén Rial, Miguel Paz, and Noelia Feijóo, the PP municipal group requested authorization from the party leadership for González Cañón’s return, citing the completion of the 13-year-old sentence. This included paying an 89 euro fine and carrying out community service, leading to his “full integration into public life” as determined by the Ministry of Justice. The PP in A Illa deems the past event irrelevant because over a decade has passed since its occurrence and highlights the councilor’s exemplary life, strong social commitment, and unwavering stance against domestic violence. They emphasize that the councilor made a mistake, paid the consequences, and is untainted, with significant political, human, and social capital, dedicated to equality and eradicating violence against women.
The Popular Party in A Illa believes that the councilor’s value should be utilized and they are convinced that he has much to contribute to the future of the municipality. The councilors express their satisfaction at the party’s approval of González’s reintegration, in response to the demands of the social majority. The party’s provincial leadership endorsed this decision, acknowledging González’s positive attributes and commitment to the community. González, son of a prominent PP figure in the municipality, was convicted of assaulting an ex-partner in 2011, leading to community service and a fine. Despite calls for resignation from the provincial leadership, the local group supported him, ultimately prevailing in the conflict.
Amid the electoral rush, the island group even released a video on social media announcing their election intentions, with González and his team denouncing political rivals’ manipulation of the domestic violence issue. González expressed regret at the timing of the revelation, which he claimed to have already addressed and viewed as an electoral ploy. Despite the existing judicial verdict, his supporters highlighted his young age at the time of the incident and his subsequent career as a security guard. While awaiting the final decision from the PP, the A Illa candidacy argued that the case was well-known in the community, labeling the judicial ruling as a result of a false accusation and accusing political opponents of using the old conviction out of fear of losing the majority.
The news of the candidate’s criminal record, revealed by media outlets, caught the PP leadership off guard and caused confusion a week before the elections. The incident detailed in the sentence occurred in 2011, when González got into a confrontation with his ex-partner on the street, resulting in facial injuries. The victim reported that González accompanied her home, an argument ensued, and he hit her in the face and arm. Despite these events, the local PP committee decided to stand by González, believing in his rectitude and commitment to the community, leading to his readmission to the party.
