Valenzuela mayor quits council bid, installs sister, and clings to power

Valenzuela Mayor Mirtha Fernández has opted out of her bid to become a municipal councilor, a position she had won in the primaries, to remain in her current mayoral post. She has installed her sister, Edith Fernández, in her place on the council, despite Edith not being on the primary election list. This move, alongside her brother Manuel Fernández's candidacy for mayor, appears to solidify the "Fernández clan's" grip on the Valenzuela Municipality.

Fernández, a member of the PLRA party, has served as mayor for 16 years. Her administration is currently facing scrutiny. She is on trial for breach of trust related to alleged damages of G. 1.199 billion during her 2019 term, stemming from accusations of using invoices to justify non-existent or poorly executed works. Furthermore, she was recently indicted again for an alleged G. 300 million in damages during her 2021 term.

The decision to replace herself with her sister has been criticized as a "scam" against voters. The "clan Fernández" is reportedly resisting relinquishing control of the Valenzuela Municipality, aiming to continue administering taxpayer resources for another term.