SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Feb. 3 (EUROPA PRESS) –
Former presidents of the Canary Islands, namely Manuel Hermoso, Román Rodríguez, Paulino Rivero, Ángel Víctor Torres, and Fernando Clavijo (the current head of the Canary Islands Executive), have expressed admiration for Lorenzo Olarte’s legacy in the political history of the Autonomous Community. They have emphasized his pivotal role in shaping the Canary Islands as we know them today.
Manuel Hermoso, who led the Autonomous Community between 1993 and 1999, highlighted that discussing Lorenzo Olarte “inevitably brings to mind the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the crowning achievement of his political career and one of the numerous contributions he made for Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands.”
Román Rodríguez, who presided over the regional Executive between 1999 and 2003, underscored that Lorenzo Olarte “undoubtedly stands out as one of the most influential politicians in the Canary Islands during the final stage of Francoism, the transition, and the establishment of democracy and autonomy.” He added that Olarte “was a key protagonist in our recent history.”
Paulino Rivero, regional president from 2007 to 2015, characterized Lorenzo Olarte as a “proud adopted son of the Canary Islands, who loved this land like no one else, and a stalwart in politics, exhibiting immense strength, courage, and dedication in the interests of the Canary Islands.”
Ángel Víctor Torres, head of the Executive between 2019 and 2023, emphasized that Lorenzo Olarte’s name “is intertwined with the history of the Canary Islands” and highlighted that he was “an exceptionally skilled politician deeply devoted to his homeland.” Torres also stressed that he will never forget the support provided by Olarte, along with the other former presidents, during the most challenging moments of the pandemic.
Fernando Clavijo, the current president of the Canary Islands from 2015 to 2019, emphasized that Lorenzo Olarte “always defended the Canary Islands and fought to ensure respect for the Canary Islands’ jurisdiction when it was questioned from Madrid.” He stated, “We owe today’s Canary Islands to Lorenzo,” bidding farewell to the “president, colleague, and mentor” in his message of condolences.
