Lara Méndez
Lara Méndez López (born 1972)[1] is a Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) politician. She was a councillor in Cervo (2003–2015) and Lugo (2015–2024), as well as the first woman to be mayor of the latter. In 2024, she was elected to the Parliament of Galicia.
Biography
[edit]Early life and career
[edit]Méndez was born in Männedorf in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland to Galician parents and returned to their native Cervo in the Province of Lugo when she was four.[1] She qualified as an agricultural engineer through the Lugo campus of the University of Santiago de Compostela.[2]
In 2000, Méndez joined the youth branch of the Socialists' Party of Galicia (PSdeG), and in 2003 she was elected to the council in Cervo, leading the opposition. In 2007, she was elected to the Provincial Deputation and received attention for having a declaration of assets with no real estate or vehicles, and just over €4,000 in savings.[2] She was wrongfully arrested in October 2009 and investigated for years over the awarding of public contracts by a department that she did not work in.[2]
Mayor of Lugo (2015–2024)
[edit]Méndez was second on the PSOE list in Lugo for the 2015 Spanish local elections, behind mayor José López Orozco.[3] The PSOE won eight seats, local party Lugonovo three and the Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) two; the other parties would not vote to install Orozco due to his indictment, resulting in the end of his 16-year mandate and making Méndez the first woman mayor of the city.[4]
In the 2019 elections, Méndez formed a coalition government between the eight councillors from her party and the five of the BNG.[5] The results four years later extended this agreement, as the parties maintained the same number of seats compared to 12 from the People's Party (PP).[6]
Parliament of Galicia (2024–)
[edit]In December 2021, Valentín González Formoso was named secretary-general of the PSdeG, with Méndez as vice secretary.[7] In March 2025, following the 15th Congress of the PSdeG, she was named Secretary of Organisation under José Ramón Gómez Besteiro.[8]
Méndez resigned as mayor of Lugo in January 2024 due to running as number 2 on the PSOE list for the Lugo constituency in the 2024 Galician regional election, but kept her seat on the council.[9] Having been elected to the Parliament of Galicia, she resigned her municipal seat.[10]
References
[edit]- 1 2 de Dios, Marta (16 June 2019). "Así es Lara Méndez, alcaldesa de Lugo: La mujer que superó una dura carrera de desgaste" [This is Lara Méndez, mayor of Lugo: The woman who overcame a tough and weary career]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Lara Méndez será la primera mujer al frente del Concello de Lugo" [Lara Méndez will be the first woman in charge of Lugo City Council]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 12 June 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ↑ Rey, Lucía (19 February 2015). "Lara Méndez será la número 2 del PSOE por Lugo en las municipales" [Lara Méndez will be the number 2 for the PSOE in Lugo in the municipal elections]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ↑ "Lara Méndez convértese na primeira alcaldesa da historia de Lugo" [Lara Méndez becomes the first mayor in the history of Lugo] (in Galician). Praza Pública. 13 June 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ↑ "Lara Méndez, investida alcaldesa do goberno bipartito que permitirá a Lugo "avanzar con máis fortaleza"" [Lara Méndez, installed as mayor of the bipartisan government that will allow Lugo "to advance with more strength"] (in Galician). Galicia Confidencial. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ↑ "Lara Méndez, reelixida alcaldesa socialista de Lugo en coalición co BNG para unha "nova alianza de traballo e afecto"" [Lara Méndez, re-elected Socialist mayor of Lugo in coalition with the BNG for a "new alliance of work and affect"] (in Galician). Praza Pública. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ↑ "(AM) Carmela Silva será la presidenta del PSdeG, con Lara Méndez como vicesecretaria xeral y Lage Tuñas en Organización" [(AM) Carmela Silva will be the president of the PSdeG, with Lara Méndez as vice-secretary general and Lage Tuñas for Organisation] (in Spanish). Galicia Press. Europa Press. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ↑ "Lara Méndez será a secretaria de Organización na nova Executiva de Besteiro: "O primeiro paso obxectivo son as municipais"" [Lara Méndez will be Secretary of Organisation in Besteiro's new executive: "The first objective step is the municipal elections"] (in Galician). Galicia Confidencial. 9 March 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ↑ Puga, Natalia (8 January 2024). "La alcaldesa de Lugo dejará al Ayuntamiento para ser la 'número 2' del PSOE en Lugo el 18-F" [Mayor of Lugo will leave City Council to be PSOE 'number 2' in Lugo for 18 February election]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ↑ "Ángeles Novo ya es concejala de Lugo en sustitución de Lara Méndez" [Ángeles Novo is now Lugo councillor in place of Lara Méndez]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 25 April 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2026.