Aaron Aaron Aaron, yet again, during the recent Congress of the Canarian PSOE, the attention in pursuit of consensus to lead the socialists from Tenerife fell on the mayor of La Victoria de Acentejo, Juan Antonio García Abreu. This was particularly notable as a significant portion of the party, especially among the more influential groups (La Laguna, Santa Cruz, Adeje, Puerto de la Cruz, and Arona, alongside some smaller factions with strong historical roots, such as Los Silos), regard him as the individual capable of maintaining the project on the island that Pedro Martín has steered smoothly. However, despite the news circulating since Sunday that there would be an escalation of discussions in an attempt to persuade him from various levels and authoritative figures within the party at both regional and insular levels, the La Victoria mayor explicitly stated this Tuesday to Canarias Ahora that, as have the various individuals who suggested it in meetings aimed at mending the significant rift currently present within the PSOE of the archipelago, his refusal to assume leadership in the island’s most populated PSOE (with around 2,000 affiliates) is resolute, direct, and unyielding.
Not even if Pedro Sánchez or other prominent leaders were to reach out to him, as he emphasises, will this position be reconsidered and it will not change, at least not at this moment. The mayor asserts he is entirely focused and dedicated to his municipality, with numerous projects and initiatives underway, making that his utmost priority. Moreover, he believes it is not necessarily undesirable for the members to elect their insular secretary, as that epitomises democracy and involvement. Should that scenario arise, he contends that a consensus candidacy revolving around his persona would, in reality, have stemmed from last-minute improvisations, which he does not see as the most effective approach to tackle the duties of the party on the island, managing opposition in the town hall and in municipalities where they are not in governance, as well as handling the day-to-day operations of the party across different factions and the unique characteristics of each locality, together with the rest of the party and institutions.
Potential candidates with primary aspirations
The positive stance that the mayor of La Victoria adopts regarding the prospect of primaries will undoubtedly lead to potential candidates emerging, because although efforts will persist to identify a consensus candidate that avoids discord and decisions in internal polling, it increasingly appears that such a possibility is becoming more elusive. According to the sources consulted, the mere fact that Gustavo Matos is the sole affiliate proposed for this role, without needing to be a candidate for the council (he has dismissed that option), expands the possibilities of presenting an alternative. In this context, all eyes are on José Antonio Valbuena, who enjoys the backing of Patricia Hernández, although the principal faction, based in La Laguna, prefers to dodge that contention (the two are from La Laguna) to prevent divisions in Aguere, the second most significant municipality where PSOE co-governs in the Canary Islands, and where mayor Luis Yeray Gutiérrez aims to solidify his majority (even to the extent of nearing or achieving an absolute majority by 2027, although this goal appears distant at present). In fact, he was the first to be eliminated from consideration for the insular secretariat precisely because of his commitment to his locality, where he collaborates with CC, which he would need to oppose in other jurisdictions to assume that position.
This situation leads some sources to speculate that Matos might withdraw from the primaries if no viable option presents itself, although at the moment, he remains the only one put forward and intends to maintain that course, notwithstanding the regional executive’s stance, as was the case last weekend.
Another name being considered, although he has also stepped back in recent weeks, is Mari Brito, mayor of Candelaria and president of the Canarian Federation of Municipalities (Fecam). Despite receiving less backing compared to Aarón Afonso and the La Victoria mayor as a consensus figure, and even though various sources believe that if he entered the race, there would indeed be competition leading to primaries, those investigated by this publication indicate attempts will be made this week to persuade him to stand, with the idea that he could become a secretary with the broadest possible acceptance to prevent precisely the members from voicing their opinions and thus avoiding potential schisms.
The PSOE Congress is scheduled for April 4 and 5. The deadline for submitting candidates for the Secretariat is this Friday and will close on the following Monday. While a consensual agreement may still be reached, the likelihood of primaries is increasing, which the main groups are keen to avoid, and they will continue their efforts in the upcoming days.
