In a pre-campaign event on Saturday, Ángel Víctor Torres, the Minister of Territorial Policy and leader of the Canarian Socialists, warned that the upcoming general elections on 29 November will significantly impact the rights of Canarians. He accused Popular Party (PP) candidate Alberto Núñez Feijóo of being “handed over to the far-right.”
Torres told journalists that Canarians face potential loss of rights if the far-right were to gain power, citing concerns that issues affecting the islands would regress. He highlighted the migrant situation, stating the archipelago could be ignored, forcing both adult and minor immigrants to remain on the islands.
He further claimed that a right-wing government would revoke the annual allocation of €1.3 billion already secured for the Canaries through agreements with the Spanish government. He stressed that advancements in airport co-management, fiscal autonomy, and protections for the islands’ interests would be jeopardised under far-right governance.
Torres described Feijóo as fully aligned with far-right ideologies, prioritising a bid for the premiership over the democratic rights of citizens. While Torres expressed confidence in the PSOE winning the elections, he acknowledged the potential repercussions for Spaniards and Canarians if Feijóo succeeds.
With the PSOE holding the most representation in the Spanish Parliament, Torres affirmed that the party remains committed to amplifying Canarian voices in Congress and the Senate. The PSOE secured eight senators and six deputies in the last election and aims to maintain or improve these numbers.
Dolores Corujo, the PSOE’s candidate for Congress from Las Palmas, stated that the future of the Canaries would be collaboratively shaped after the November elections. José Antonio Valbuena, leading the Santa Cruz de Tenerife list, noted that the elections could result in a significant regression for Spain.
The PSOE’s lists for the elections feature leading candidates, including José Antonio Valbuena, Marta Arocha, and Sergio Matos for Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and Dolores Corujo, Luc André Diouf, and Vanesa Cabrera for Las Palmas. Senate candidates include Pedro Martín and Alicia Alvarez from Tenerife, Juan Jesús Facundo and Marta Saavedra from Gran Canaria, and others from various islands.
