SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 10th June (EUROPA PRESS) –
Carlos Alonso, the candidate of the Canary Coalition (CC), conceded on Sunday that these elections have been challenging for their party due to the “polarization” caused by national parties, but he is optimistic about the results – finishing as the fourth strongest with 10% of the votes, building a “strong foundation” for what lies ahead.
Addressing party members at the headquarters, supported by figures like the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, the parliamentary spokesperson, José Miguel Barragán, and the second vice president of Parliament, Ana Oramas, Alonso noted that they have managed to secure the third position on many islands.
“Polarization has dominated much of the campaign, but it has not overwhelmed us,” he stated, emphasizing their commitment to continue representing “the voice of the Canary Islands” through the CEUS coalition and maintaining the MEP position through Oihane Agirregoitia (PNV).
Alonso congratulated the winners of the elections – PP at the national level and PSOE in the Canary Islands – and highlighted the resilience of the European People’s Party, the social democrats, and the liberals, as “the three pillars” of the EU, against the rise of the extreme right, which he sees as beneficial for the Canary Islands.
He reiterated their resolve to “champion the interests of the Canary Islands in the European Parliament” by advocating for a “change in approach” that prioritises the needs of the islands, especially regarding demographic growth and fiscal matters.
Reflecting on the low voter turnout, particularly in the Canary Islands with almost 60% abstention, Alonso stressed the importance of analysing why these elections, crucial for the region, failed to garner much interest among voters.
“We need to find ways to revitalise the situation so that Europeans also consider the elections important and show support through their vote,” he declared.
Alonso expressed hope that some CC proposals could be collaborated on with Canarian MEPs Gabriel Mato (PP) and Juan Fernando López Aguilar (PSOE) and emphasised the significance of the campaign proposals put forward by his team.
“We have successfully mobilised our members, our supporters, across all islands. Our campaign was infused with innovative proposals,” he remarked, highlighting a particularly effective campaign in Gran Canaria.
TOLEDO: CC Emerges with the “Only” Campaign Proposals
The Secretary of Organization, David Toledo, praised Alonso as an “outstanding candidate” who tirelessly campaigned across the archipelago to address issues concerning the Canary Islands.
“He presented the only solutions proposed to tackle the challenges faced by the Canary Islands throughout this campaign,” he stated.
Toledo noted the highly polarised nature of the elections, characterised by low turnout and the “tension” created by the four national political parties, resulting in a lot of noise and toxicity.
He highlighted that discussions largely overlooked topics like housing, immigration, or any other issues, focusing solely on the agenda set forth by CC.
Additionally, Toledo acknowledged the successful achievement of CEUS in securing representation in the European Parliament and reinforced the notion that the ultra-peripheral status of the Canary Islands can be “advocated” for, with CC emerging as the third-strongest force in six of the eight islands.
