The Canarian coalition will put forth their proposal to implement a Tourist rate per night for non-resident visitors across other islands, starting from Tenerife. This marks one of the primary outcomes from the initial day of the V I Insular Congress of the Nationalist party, which is being held until tomorrow at the Santa Cruz fairgrounds. Nearly all leaders and public figures of CC—especially mayors—who spoke in the morning underscored a central idea: “They wrote us off four years ago because we lost governance in many institutions, yet today we are thriving more than ever.”
Overview
The management report presented by the outgoing Executive led by Francisco Linares, with the president of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, serving as the secretary of Organisation, garnered unanimous approval from all 300 attendees on the first day of the forum themed Tenerife United. This unanimity is unprecedented in the party’s history, and indications suggest that Linares will receive similar ‘Bulgarian’ support tomorrow for his re-election as general secretary of the Tenerife nationalists.
Linares cautioned: “We must avoid self-satisfaction; let us not presume we have achieved anything. We must keep working with humility, remain attentive, and stay engaged with institutions without becoming institutionalised—we cannot lose touch with the public.”
Discussions
This afternoon, the nationalists will deliberate on three presentations and numerous resolution proposals slated for approval tomorrow. The first segment will kick off discussions on Venezuela, culture, identity, and youth. Furthermore, the Nationalist Congress will examine island regulations, municipal protocols, and the political presentation Tenerife, the future is now, advocated by Rosa Dávila.
Membership
Francisco Linares emphasises the strength derived from “13,000 members, making us the largest party in the Canary Islands,” noting that a thousand of these individuals joined during the four years (2019-2023) when they lost governance over most institutions at both regional and local levels on the island. This challenging period has “fortified us through our membership work.” The mayor of La Orotava asserted that “members should freely discuss and establish proposals, as we do not depend on anyone else.” He proposed a ten-year work plan aimed towards 2035.
Rates
Linares outlined two crucial action lines: firstly, the party’s model will “alter very little” in structure since “what functions well should remain untouched.” Secondly, they will discuss the policies presented, particularly Rosa Dávila’s stance on the overnight rate for non-residents, which has generated some controversy recently. This is in light of the Popular Party’s opposition to CC at the Autonomous Community level and within the Cabildo de Tenerife, among other administrative bodies. The conclusions will be directed towards a regional convention of the Canarian coalition later this year.
Debate
The mayor of La Orotava also believes that “our affiliates, who proposed over 150 amendments, have the right to engage in discussions because we are independent and not a branch of anyone.” The four-year tenure in opposition (2019-2023) “was navigated thanks to our dedication and effort.” He acknowledged that they “purged the party and expelled members who were not true nationalists. We lost ten but gained a thousand.”
Expansion
Linares elaborated on this notion: “Having been in opposition for several years, we succeeded not just in surviving—something many doubted—but also in strengthening and growing our membership and electoral outcomes in 2023, the first election we faced from the opposition. Our results were outstanding.” He concluded by stating that “Tenerife played a key role, with Fernando Clavijo as the President of the Canary Islands and my friend and companion Rosa Dávila serving as the first female president of the Cabildo.”
Leadership
Rosa Dávila expressed her “delight” at participating in this congress “in person”. She reminisced that “four years ago (April 2021), we were meeting online, yet we did not cease to hold a congress within a party that listens to its grassroots, its members, and its community.” She added: “Many believed we would remain in opposition indefinitely; that the Canarian coalition would disintegrate, yet nothing could be further from the truth, as we have emerged stronger, becoming the most influential party in Tenerife.” She praised the “leadership” displayed throughout the morning and acknowledged the capabilities of Francisco Linares, as well as her “generosity” as crucial elements that helped overcome these challenging four years.
Prospects
Dávila noted that “a new era is upon us, during which the Canarian coalition will address the future of our region.” She emphasised the key themes of her 60-page political presentation: “We will primarily focus on our people—not on ourselves—on sustainability, the tourist rate, the eco-tax, housing issues, and the demographic challenges.” She concluded: “We intend to address the topics that matter to the public, concerning the challenges facing our region in an increasingly tumultuous setting.”
Framework
Linares commented on the tourist model: “The tourist rate has been introduced in numerous territories, virtually all over Europe, and we must consider not just immediate solutions, but also lay the groundwork for regenerative, conscious tourism that values our land and our people.”
Efforts
Fernando Clavijo, president of the Regional Executive, praised “the remarkable efforts made by Paco Linares and Rosa Dávila during this recent period.” He asserted that “the party grew stronger in opposition, uniting and expanding thanks to the effective management from the island’s leadership.” He highlighted that “the future must be clearly defined for the organisation over the next decade. Engaging in open dialogue, without hesitation, we will discuss the concerns of the citizens of Tenerife, the island that drives the economy of the archipelago. It is time to address these issues candidly and freely, allowing the membership to voice their opinions.” He stressed the necessity of discussing all matters: residence, housing, and the potential for renegotiating our status within the European Union, recalling that we joined in 1986—almost 40 years ago—and much has changed since then.
Wealth Distribution
Regarding the tourist rate, he noted that “I first introduced it at the Canarian coalition meeting in January 2024 and at a Fitur forum. There, I conveyed that either salaries or taxes must rise as a means to distribute wealth.” He pointed out that “this was announced prior to protests on the 20th and 18th, and before certain parties, who once promised and included it in their electoral platforms, failed to uphold their commitments.”
Initiatives
Clavijo underlined that “we should not conflate government programmes with internal political debates. When we approached elections, we did not campaign on the tourist rate, but rather aimed to review taxation, given the obvious issues regarding wealth distribution in the Canary Islands. Post-pandemic, after four years of flourishing, the rich have grown richer while the poor have become poorer.” The president questioned: “Are we upsetting some?”
