Cádiz City Council Rejects Medalla de Oro for Virgen de las Penas

The Cádiz City Council formalised a series of municipal honours, approving all proposed “hijos predilectos” and other Gold Medals unanimously. The only dissent was over the proposal to award the Medalla de Oro to the Virgen de las Penas, a devotional image of the La Palma brotherhood. While the PP and PSOE groups voted in favour, the Adelante Izquierda Gaditana party opposed the award, leading to its rejection in the plenary session.

The council also confirmed new honorary titles for carnival figure José Luis García Cossío “Selu”, union leader Carmen Pérez Fuentes, local activist José Rodríguez Vázquez and scientist Carola García. The Virgen de las Penas nomination had been backed by the archicofradía with more than 2,000 signatures from devotees and local organisations. The brotherhood’s spokesperson highlighted this popular support, noting that the medal presentation is expected to take place after the council’s ceremony on 4 November.

This split reflects a change from previous years when similar religious medals, such as those for the Virgen del Rosario, received cross‑party backing, underscoring shifting political stances within the municipal coalition.