The City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is currently analyzing a judicial order that compels the council to reinstate the former Local Police chief, Carlos Saavedra Brichis, to a senior position within the police command. The city's mayor, Carolina Darias, announced on Monday that she had received the judicial resolution, which is subject to appeal, while simultaneously defending the council's authority to fill positions within its organizational structure.
The mayor described the matter as having "immense legal complexity," referring to the "tangle" of court rulings since 2019, the year the former police chief was dismissed following negative reports on the security plans for the capital's carnival parade. This dismissal led to a legal challenge by the former chief that reached the Supreme Court, resulting in the annulment of Carlos Saavedra Brichis's dismissal in 2025. This has now paved the way for his reinstatement, particularly since the current chief, Carmen Delia Martín Mederos, resigned in May, a resignation that has yet to be formally accepted.
Darias requested time to "analyze the resolution to determine the next steps," urging caution regarding media reports. "While respecting the judicial decision, we also respect the autonomy of the City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria," she stated, emphasizing the commitment to comply with court rulings while also "carrying out what is legally appropriate for the City Council's part."
The judicial order mandates that the City Council resolve Carmen Delia Martín Mederos's resignation request within five business days and reinstate Carlos Saavedra Brichis within another five days. This ruling represents a significant shift, as previously, Brichis's reinstatement had not been granted despite the annulment of his dismissal, citing potential harm to his successor. However, the current chief's resignation has created a vacancy that the former chief has used to claim his position back.
When questioned by journalists about this turn of events, the mayor responded enigmatically, mentioning the recent visit of Pope León XIV to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, suggesting this event might have influenced or contextualized certain decisions.
Until now, there was a prevailing sentiment within the Local Police force that the decision to accept Carmen Delia Martín Mederos's resignation had been postponed until after the papal visit, to avoid leaving the police force "headless" during what was considered the most significant security and mobility challenge Las Palmas de Gran Canaria had ever faced.
