Clavijo seeks nationalist unity for a Canary Islands voice in Madrid

The secretary-general of Coalición Canaria, Fernando Clavijo, called on Thursday for a «broad nationalist agreement bringing together people of different political persuasions who, above all else, have the best interests of the Canary Islands at heart» ahead of the forthcoming elections on 29 November.

At an event organised by his party in Telde (Gran Canaria), Clavijo asserted that «the only voice that speaks out in defence of the Canary Islands when there are problems in the Congress of Deputies or the Senate is that of Coalición Canaria», whose presence he believes is «now more necessary than ever in these turbulent, difficult times, marked by significant polarisation».

«Where there is nothing but noise, where there is a significant loss of public trust in politics, a voice of reason is needed, one that defends the Canary Islands and their unique characteristics,» he added.

Canary Islands: Clavijo sees the snap election as an opportunity

The President of the Canary Islands has also called for «efforts to be made to calm things down a little so that there can be room for ideas, not just for noise, confrontation, insults and tension».

In his view, bringing the elections forward presents «an opportunity» for Canarian nationalism to «come together and make plans».

He pointed out that his party champions «the Canarian way of doing politics, so that we can offer the public concrete proposals or solutions to the problems we face» on the islands.

Coalición Canaria is working on a broad nationalist agreement

Clavijo wants to secure «a major nationalist agreement», on which Coalición Canaria «is working intensively with many stakeholders», in a process that «is going well», he said.

«The more united we Canarians are, the easier it will be to secure representation in Madrid» and, the more representation there is in the Spanish capital, «the stronger our position will be in defending Canarian interests, interests which people believe have already been secured, but which could be lost», he argued.

In this regard, he highlighted «the 75 per cent discount for residents (on air and ferry tickets), free bus travel, the road funding agreement, which has already been exhausted for our infrastructure, water works, and the POSEI programme for our primary sector», amongst other issues that «we have historically championed and which are not guaranteed».

The CC leader maintains that people «need to realise that what we have could be lost at any moment», because «when you look up and cast your gaze a little further, you can see storm clouds gathering».

That is why, «now more than ever, we need that Canarian vote, that support,» he emphasised.

Gran Canaria: Rodríguez aims to mobilise the party's grassroots for 2027

The same view was expressed by the Canary Islands Government’s Minister for Public Works and leader of CC in Gran Canaria, Pablo Rodríguez, who has stated that this event aims to «strengthen and mobilise party members ahead of the upcoming (regional and local) elections in May 2027», which will also serve «to confirm an agreement we have been signing for years with Ciudadanos de Centro Democrático (CCD) in Telde, led by Juan Martel».

This meeting, he said, «has also become something of a pre-election rally, with these elections representing an opportunity for the Canary Islands to underpin and reaffirm our influence in the Congress of Deputies and the Senate, and thus to continue defending the voice of the Canary Islands in Madrid with even greater vigour».

For Rodríguez, this event «takes centre stage» in order to «launch a campaign fuelled by enthusiasm and determination», which represents a moment of «opportunity» for the Canary Islands to «improve their standing in the Congress and the Senate».

CCD Telde expands its collaboration with Coalición Canaria

The spokesperson for CCD Telde, Juan Martel, has emphasised his points, stressing that they are «two parties that have been united in this town for eight years» and that «we have extended this commitment ahead of the forthcoming elections».

He has revealed that the aim is «to join that round table for Canarian unity» ahead of the forthcoming elections.