On Monday, the electoral coalition Unidad del Pueblo Canario (UPC) submitted its lists of candidates for the Congress of Deputies and the Senate across the islands‘ two provinces, describing this as a «path towards building» the future of the left and leaving «no room» for the right.
The lead candidates for the coalition formed by Sumar, Podemos, Nueva Canarias and IU for the Congress in Las Palmas, Luis Campos (NC), and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Marisol Collado (Sumar), have both emphasised to journalists that these parties were the first to achieve «a single ballot paper for the left» to defend «the genuine interests of the Canary Islands» and that they are confident of securing «strong representation» in Parliament.
Campos emphasised that UPC will «represent the social majority of the Canary Islands in Madrid, with firmness and determination to work for this region, to uphold democracy and social rights, to defend housing, and to curb the far-right forces of Vox, the PP and their allies» on the islands.
UPC: Campos is aiming for at least one seat in the Congress
The man, who is also the general secretary of Nueva Canarias, has expressed his confidence that the party will win a seat in the province of Las Palmas, but has said that they are «much more ambitious».
In his view, it is a success to have achieved this coming together in the face of the ‚outcry‘ that has long called for unity on the left, which they now wish to transform into hope and optimism,
He has therefore called on the public to support the «truly useful vote for the Canarian alternative, in order to defend the Canary Islands‘ voice in Madrid».
Nueva Canarias distances itself from former party colleagues
Whilst registering their lists in the province of Las Palmas, members of Nueva Canarias came across colleagues who had left their party to form Primero Canarias, which is standing alongside Coalición Canaria in the general election, and when asked about this split, Campos pointed out that it is up to each individual to decide where they stand.
However, he has maintained that the NC members remain in the «same position as always», whilst others have thrown their lot in with the Canarian right.
He also stated that «we will never, ever, under any circumstances, form a coalition with Vox or the PP, and we stand by that, unlike others who always say this during the campaign and then, without fail, go back on their word the very next day».
Campos has also given his assurance that, if he wins the seat, he will serve for the full term, as that is the decision that has been taken; he has therefore emphasised that he will «under no circumstances» resign to take up a seat in the Canary Islands Parliament or for any other reason, in the run-up to the local and regional elections to be held in May.
When asked whether this alliance would also be maintained in the May elections, he pointed out that this «will need to be discussed» after 29 November.
The UPC’s number 2 candidate for Las Palmas in the general election, Iratxe Serrano (Podemos), has stated that «you can’t go out in fear» of the polarisation that exists in this campaign and that «they will go all out»; she has expressed her conviction, just like Campos, that they stand a chance of getting up to two candidates elected in Las Palmas.
UPC candidates emphasise diversity and social protection
Marisol Collado, who is the coordinator of Movimiento Sumar and the lead candidate for Santa Cruz de Tenerife, has stated that this «historic» agreement amongst left-wing parties presents a list of candidates for the 29 November elections that is diverse in terms of age and gender, and which draws primarily from local politics and activism within social, environmental and educational movements.
«It is also a candidacy that will leave no room for the right, the far right and the nationalist right, which do not defend the interests of the Canary Islands, and which do not place housing, young people, the development model and pensions at the heart of political debate and action.»
For his part, Francisco Santamaría, second on the list and coordinator of Izquierda Unida Canaria in Tenerife, agreed that this electoral alliance marks «a historic moment for the transformative left and left-wing nationalism in the Canary Islands».
In addition to the objectives set out by Marisol Collado, the representative of Izquierda Unida has stated that UPC will vigorously defend social protection systems, the territory and natural spaces, and the «most vulnerable and impoverished» sectors of society, in order to provide them with shelter and support and to build a fairer and more equal Canarian society.
For her part, Idaira Afonso, third on the list and Secretary for Social Action at Podemos Canarias, has expressed her conviction that UPC «will inspire hope» amongst citizens seeking a voice on the left and «a voice of their own»; she has therefore called for people to set aside «the very minor differences, because what unites us is always so much greater».
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