CANARY ISLANDS · POLITICS

Conflict-of-interest allegations against Canary finance deputy Megías

Gabriel Megías, viceconsejero for Hacienda and Relations with the EU in the government of Canarias, faces press reports alleging that he did not disclose two company board seats in the official interest-declaration registers. The reports were published by eldiario.es (canariasahora), Diario de Avisos and Libertad Digital between 18 and 20 August 2026. These are, expressly, allegations reported by the press; there is no judicial finding.

21 August 2026 · By Julia Roca Bethencourt · 6 min
Chocolate and money (illustrative)

Photo: Mx. Granger, CC0 (Symbolbild).

The Canarias government is led by a coalition of Coalición Canaria (CC) and the PP. The reports raise two questions: a possible non-disclosure of board mandates and a possible conflict of interest. Neither Megías nor the Consejería de Hacienda had commented publicly by the time of publication, according to the reports.

What the press alleges

According to eldiario.es and Diario de Avisos, Megías reportedly declared "none" for private activities in his official transparency and interest filings, even though the reports say he sits on the boards of two companies. The outlets describe this as a non-disclosure; whether and how any reporting duty was breached is a matter of public debate and has not been settled in court.

An important point of context: being a board member is not, in itself, unlawful. The issue raised by the press concerns the missing entry in the registers and a possible conflict of interest between public office and a private business stake.

The two companies

The companies, according to the reports, are Andrés Megías Mendoza S.A., known as "La Isleña", a chocolate maker awarded the Medalla de Oro de Canarias in 2025, and Inversiones y Gestiones Turísticas S.A. (Ingestursa), a hotel-management firm.

According to eldiario.es and Libertad Digital, Megías is said to sit on the boards of both companies. His proximity to the family chocolate business and to a tourism firm is central to the coverage, because both sectors can be affected by decisions taken by Hacienda and other regional departments.

The AIEM chocolate-duty resolution

On 3 August 2026, Megías reportedly signed a resolution requiring Canary hotels to pay the AIEM import duty on non-Canarian chocolates and bombones. The AIEM (Arbitrio sobre Importaciones y Entregas de Mercancías) is a Canary levy designed to favour locally produced goods over imported ones.

According to Libertad Digital and Diario de Avisos, that resolution could benefit the family chocolate business La Isleña, on whose board Megías is said to sit. Whether any actual benefit arose is not conclusively established in the reports; the outlets draw a possible connection rather than assert a proven gain.

EU funds for the hotel company

Diario de Avisos reported on 20 August 2026 that Ingestursa, the hotel company linked to Megías, received EU-funded aid from the regional Tourism and Employment ministry. The amount approved, per the report, was €234,244.02; the documentation cited a figure of €294,244, described as "casi 300.000 €" (almost €300,000).

The funds were, according to Diario de Avisos, intended for renovations at the Apartamentos Cordial Mogán Valle in Mogán. Both figures come from the reporting, and the outlet explicitly cites the two amounts. This article draws no further conclusion about any favourable treatment.

Reactions and silence

The Consejería de Hacienda under Matilde Asián (PP) gave no response, according to the reports. The vicepresidencia under Manuel Domínguez (PP) said it was "analizando la situación" (analysing the situation). Megías himself did not comment publicly by the time of publication, per the reports.

The PSOE called the matter one of "máxima gravedad" (utmost seriousness) and demanded accountability from the PP. The opposition party asked for clarification and said one could not "look the other way". All of these responses are drawn from the cited coverage.

For context: The AIEM (Arbitrio sobre Importaciones y Entregas de Mercancías) is a Canary import-and-goods levy intended to protect locally produced goods against imported ones.
Interest declarations are official registers in which office-holders must disclose private activities and stakes, so that potential conflicts of interest are made transparent.
Important note: Every point described here is an allegation reported by the press and should be treated as such; there is no judicial finding of wrongdoing.
Being a board member is not, by itself, unlawful — what is raised is the non-disclosure and a possible conflict of interest. Megías and Hacienda had not responded by the time of publication; no verdict is implied here.

Key facts

  • Gabriel Megías: viceconsejero for Hacienda and Relations with the EU, government of Canarias (CC–PP coalition)
  • Allegation: undisclosed board seats at Andrés Megías Mendoza S.A. ("La Isleña", chocolate, Medalla de Oro de Canarias 2025) and Ingestursa (hotel management) — per eldiario.es, Diario de Avisos, Libertad Digital, 18–20 Aug 2026
  • 3 August 2026: signed a resolution on the AIEM duty on non-Canarian chocolates (per Libertad Digital, Diario de Avisos)
  • EU aid to Ingestursa: €234,244.02 approved; documentation cites €294,244 ("casi 300.000 €"), for Apartamentos Cordial Mogán Valle in Mogán (Diario de Avisos, 20 Aug 2026)
  • Reactions: Hacienda (Matilde Asián, PP) no response; vicepresidencia (Manuel Domínguez, PP) "analizando la situación"; PSOE cites "máxima gravedad"
  • No judicial finding; Megías did not comment publicly, per the reports

FAQ

What are the allegations about?
Press reports allege that Megías did not list two board seats in the official interest registers, while his filing declared "none" for private activities. These are allegations, not a judicial finding.
Which companies are involved?
According to the reports, the chocolate maker Andrés Megías Mendoza S.A. ("La Isleña") and the hotel company Inversiones y Gestiones Turísticas S.A. (Ingestursa).
How does the AIEM resolution fit in?
Megías reportedly signed a resolution on 3 August 2026 applying the AIEM duty to non-Canarian chocolates, which per Libertad Digital and Diario de Avisos could benefit the family business La Isleña.
What EU funds are referred to?
Per Diario de Avisos, Ingestursa received EU-funded aid of €234,244.02 approved (documentation: €294,244) for renovations at the Apartamentos Cordial Mogán Valle in Mogán.
How did those involved respond?
Hacienda (Matilde Asián, PP) gave no answer, the vicepresidencia (Manuel Domínguez, PP) said it was "analizando la situación", and the PSOE spoke of "máxima gravedad". Megías did not comment, per the reports.