Combining the diverse nationalist sentiments that emerged in the 1970s in Canary Islands was a skill of Victoriano Ríos (San Cristobal of La Laguna, 1930-2018). This virtue is currently scarce in times of division – whether it’s in politics due to the surge of the extreme right or on social media with self-serving false information. Events like the 1st Victoriano Ríos Political Thought Conference seek to promote reflection and dialogue from a calm perspective.
The discussions, hosted by the Canarism and Democracy Association in collaboration with the Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country of Tenerife, commenced with a round table titled Victoriano Ríos, pioneer of transversal nationalism?. The panel included the former president of the Canary Islands, Paulino Rivero, former counselor Milagros Luis Brito, and political scientist Ayoze Corujo. The moderation was done by Fernando Ríos, the son of Victoriano Ríos and president of the Canarism and Democracy association.
Political scientist Ayoze Corujo stressed the significance of Victoriano Ríos, who held positions such as president of the Parliament of the Canary Islands, senator for the autonomous community, deputy, and one of the ideologues of what is now known as “modern Canarian nationalism.” One of his notable traits was viewing nationalism as something “ideologically transversal.”
Corujo also highlighted Ríos’ perception of nationalism from the concept of the island-nation and envisioning a large popular national party, which had initial outbreaks in the Independent Groups of the Canary Islands in 1987 and subsequently in Canarian Coalition.
Victoriano Ríos, through the Independent Groups of the Canary Islands, laid the groundwork for the Canary Coalition
According to Corujo, Ríos is credited with the birth of Canarianism, where all the parties of Canarian allegiance would come together – nationalists, federalists, regionalists, localists, and insularists – as he unified them all in “one party,” ideologically transversal, representing the diverse and multiple sentiments of the people.
However, Fernando Ríos emphasized the importance of the movement itself over the figure of his father. He stated, “Rather than Victoriano in particular, I believe we should discuss a generation that included Bernardo Cabrera, Juan Pedro Dávila, and even Antonio Cubillo. Personalities who in the 1970s had concerns about the future of the Canary Islands and the events in the Sahara.”
Fernando Ríos underscores the exemplary nature of his father’s generation in debating the future despite their differing ideologies
In this endorsement of diversity, Ríos recalled the significant role played by recently deceased former socialist president Jerónimo Saavedra, stating, “It is essential to recognize the contributions of those who, from various perspectives, contributed to the anti-Franco struggle and promoted democracy in Canarian society.”
Ríos highlighted the importance, in a time of “growing division,” of establishing spaces for discussion that encompass different Canarian sensitivities, be it those of individuals inside or outside of power.
The 1st Victoriano Ríos Conference on Political Thought will involve various profiles, from recent political figures like Ana Oramas and Fermín Delgado to younger personalities such as political scientist Ayoze Corujo. In this context, Fernando Ríos emphasized the encouragement of intergenerational dialogue, enabling the youth to inherit the legacy of historical figures and contribute to enriching the political discourse in the Canary Islands.
According to Fernando Ríos, the risk to evade was “having highly technical sessions.” The organizers intended for these discussions to be accessible to all, from the family and friends of Victoriano Ríos to individuals interested in exploring nationalism as an ideology capable of uniting an increasing number of people.”
Ayoze Corujo also invited individuals of all ages to attend the conference, intending to understand “how the community was built and who formed its initial governments.” He added, “Without a doubt, Victoriano Ríos was one of those responsible.”
Three days of discussions
The 1st Victoriano Ríos Political Thought Conference, organized by the Canarism and Democracy Association in collaboration with the Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country of Tenerife, commenced the first round table titled Victoriano Ríos, a precursor of transversal nationalism yesterday at 7:00 p.m., which included the participation of Paulino Rivero, Milagros Luis Brito, Ayoze Corujo, and the moderator Fernando Ríos.
Today, at the same time, the discussion will revolve around the economic future of the Canary Islands, featuring the participation of José Carlos Francisco, Fermín Delgado, Ricardo González, and moderated by Flora Marrero.
Tomorrow, Ana Oramas, Domingo Garí, and José Miguel Martín will engage in a debate moderated by Emiliano Oliva, concluding the three-day conference with a discussion on the Past, Present, and Future of Canarian political thought.
