Drago Canarias has announced it will run its own candidates in the general elections on 29 November, opting not to join forces with left-wing coalitions for now. Following an extraordinary meeting in Fuerteventura, the party confirmed that Alberto Rodríguez will lead the list in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, while Héctor Morán will represent Las Palmas.
This decision marks a key move in the party’s electoral strategy, as it seeks to maintain its identity and political programme. The party aims to distinguish itself from the PSOE and other leftist groups.
Rodríguez, a municipal councillor in La Laguna and former member of Unidas Podemos, will stand for Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Morán, who oversees organisation within Drago, will lead the charge in Las Palmas. Both candidates represent Drago’s commitment to offering a progressive, sovereign political alternative for the Canary Islands.
Drago’s announcement comes amid ongoing negotiations among various leftist organisations to form joint candidacies due to the upcoming elections. The party’s choice not to join these coalitions highlights its desire to distance itself from other groups.
The meeting also included critiques aimed at Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s decision to call early elections, which Drago describes as opportunistic and aimed at stalling declining voter support. The party has raised concerns regarding inadequate government measures to address housing issues, critiquing the absence of regulations against speculative property purchases and tax policies that could improve housing access for the working class.
Drago further expressed frustration over the lack of national budgets in recent years and ongoing parliamentary disagreements that have hindered legislative progress.
The party also extended its criticism to leftist parties, accusing them of lacking self-reflection on social issues, corruption, and government decisions. They specifically condemned the Spanish government’s change in stance on Western Sahara in 2022, arguing that it harmed the Sahrawi people and affected issues related to maritime boundaries and migration management for the Canary Islands.
Drago believes that social discontent and the rise of far-right sentiments are connected to inadequate responses to everyday issues, such as housing and the increasing cost of living, and it advocates for a distinct political approach from larger state parties.
Among its key proposals are measures to limit speculative property purchases, promote economic diversification, reduce tourism, and establish a residency law for the Canary Islands. The party also calls for increased local control over matters like coastal management and airports and advocates for sovereignty over its territorial waters.
