Canarian Businesses Back Conservative Government Ahead of 2027 Elections
Leading figures from Gran Canaria’s port and automotive sectors, united by politician Fernando Clavijo, are actively supporting the establishment of a conservative government as the countdown to the 2027 elections begins. With discussions now focused on when in the first four months of the year the general elections will be held, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has ruled out the idea of a simultaneous vote with regional and local elections on 23 May.
Political parties are consumed by election preparations. This week, Alberto Núñez Feijóo visited the Canary Islands to introduce candidates for the two provincial capitals: Poli Suárez for Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Carmen Pérez for Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Despite the usual political rhetoric, Pérez’s campaign message for change raises eyebrows, especially given that the People’s Party (PP) has consistently governed in coalition with the Canary Coalition.
Carmen Pérez, the current councillor for Employment, Trade, and Tourism, declared her candidacy on social media, stating, “Alberto Núñez Feijóo appointed me candidate to lead change in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.” This announcement inadvertently undermines the position of the current party leader in the city, Carlos Tarife, who is being reassigned to the Canary Islands Parliament.
In Las Palmas, the party has aimed for a strong comeback with Poli Suárez, the regional Education Minister, as its candidate. Feijóo’s offhand nickname for him, “El Potro de Vallecas,” sparked humorous reactions on social media, but the chosen slogan, “Recuperar la ilusión,” suggests a move to reignite interest after being in opposition.
Coalition Canaria’s (CC) recent announcement has overshadowed the PP’s efforts. Marcial Morales has been selected as their candidate, a significant political move that lessens internal rivalries within CC. The preference for Morales, previously the president of Fuerteventura’s council, means the controversial Beatriz Calzada, president of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, may now have to contend for a lower placement on the electoral list.
It was revealed that Evaristo Quintana, a well-known journalist, was initially considered for the role, highlighting the strategic discussions within Primero Canarias, CC’s local branch. Business leaders who support Clavijo are pleased with these developments, viewing strengthened candidates as beneficial for the future administration.
However, there are concerns among businesses regarding electoral polling. Current trends suggest that the coalition of CC, PP, and Agrupación Socialista Gomera may fall short of the 36 seats needed to govern. Both the PP and CC are acutely aware of the growing influence of Vox, which might necessitate their collaboration for Clavijo to remain in power.
In contrast, the Socialist Party (PSOE) maintains a strong position, with a recent survey showing 37% of respondents believe the previous government was preferable to Clavijo’s, while only 18% disagreed. Should the PSOE secure a victory with Ángel Víctor Torres as their candidate, they may need to rally leftist support to form a coalition amid national political tensions.
