Ángel Víctor Torres, the Secretary General of the PSOE Canarias, expressed confidence on Saturday in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria that his party aims not only to maintain but to increase its representation in the national parliament. He dismissed Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s opposition, accusing him of relying solely on insults and criticism.
During the official launch of the PSOE candidates for Congress and the Senate, Torres highlighted the significance of this election for the Canary Islands and stressed the need for a stronger socialist representation to safeguard regional interests and ensure progress made in recent years.
He emphasised that the PSOE currently stands as the main voice for the Canary Islands in parliament, with eight senators and six deputies, and expressed optimism about enhancing those figures through initiatives by the Spanish government and the work of the opposition in the Canary Islands parliament.
Torres warned that a government led by the PP and Vox could pose risks to the Canary Islands, particularly regarding issues of migration, regional financing, self-government, and the protection of their Economic and Fiscal Regime. He noted that this alternative could jeopardise an additional 1.3 billion euros annually provided by regional financing agreements.
“We are fighting to maintain, preserve, and expand the rights we have achieved,” he stated, referencing healthcare, education, housing, social care, and progress in equality.
He asserted that the PSOE is undergoing a “recovery,” driven by increasing support for the progressive project led by Pedro Sánchez. Torres recalled that predictions in 2023 similarly suggested a right-wing victory that did not materialise.
In contrast, he labelled Núñez Feijóo as representing “emptiness” with no concrete answers regarding pensions, minimum wage, or social rights, stating, “His only proposal is insults and disqualification.”
Torres concluded by advocating for a fair response to this strategy, warning that a PP and Vox government could lead to a regression of rights achieved.
The PSOE Canarias nominations for the elections are as follows: for Congress in Santa Cruz de Tenerife: José Antonio Valbuena, Marta Arocha, Sergio Matos, Teresa Gutiérrez, David Peraza, and Josefa Mesa; in Las Palmas: Dolores Corujo, Luc André Diouf, Vanesa Cabrera, Pedro Sosa, Ada Santana, and Alberto Guevara Hernández.
Senate candidates include Pedro Martín and Alicia Alvarez (Tenerife), Juan Jesús Facundo and Marta Saavedra (Gran Canaria), Paloma Hernández (Fuerteventura), Francisco Manuel Fajardo (Lanzarote), Juan Luis Navarro (La Gomera), Alpidio Armas (El Hierro), and Kilian Sánchez San Juan (La Palma).
