What brought Tamara Raya to the PSOE, and what does her professional and political journey entail?

From a young age, I harboured political interests largely inspired by my paternal grandfather. At 13, he gifted me books about socialism, recognising my enthusiasm for politics. Lola Padrón (deputy of the Common and also from Puerto de la Cruz) reached out to me during my job transition, which led me to believe it was the right time to get involved. I had not previously engaged in political action. I distinctly remember when Felipe González lost the elections in 1996; I approached a local council to ask how I could join. My father was quite apprehensive about joining due to the public nature of political commitments, and though he wasn’t pleased when I told him I would be running for a position, he eventually warmed to the idea.

What influenced your decision to stand for this position?

It was the encouragement of my peers that prompted the idea, as I had not contemplated it myself. I have consistently been in the public sphere (as a councillor, national deputy, and presently in the Parliament of the Canary Islands), but within the party structure, I had only been involved at the executive level in Puerto de la Cruz. Colleagues from prominent groups, such as Luis Yeray Gutiérrez (La Laguna), Patricia Hernández (Santa Cruz), and Zebenzuí González (Puerto de la Cruz), started reaching out to me. They put me to the test and I felt that I couldn’t refuse. They motivated me to avoid a primary election because I would be the consensus candidate. I felt swept along by a current; the moment I agreed is somewhat of a blur. It was also crucial to galvanise the group of women who wanted to take steps forward.

Would you have preferred another candidate?

Ideally, consensus is always preferred. There should be no fear surrounding primaries; rather, they should be respected as experiences have shown that they can create fractures which are sometimes hard to mend. Consensus is crucial, and we all recognised its importance.

Being supported stimulates prospects but also carries weighty responsibility.

Absolutely, it is a challenge, a significant responsibility, and an honour to represent the Socialist Party. I am a team player and do not shy away from differing opinions as they can contribute positively. I am open to dialogue and negotiation to achieve consensus. I come from a place of optimism, which is my nature. I expect to encounter hurdles, but I am willing, along with those beside me, to address them effectively.

She will be the first insular general secretary in history.

Indeed, it is an honour, but this journey began long ago with a party that has committed itself to equality and aims to maintain a strong political presence. In Tenerife, there are more female socialist mayors than male counterparts, and there are others, like Patricia Hernández in Santa Cruz, who was the first woman to win an election.

Will you be the candidate for the Cabildo?

I cannot rule it out, although it is still two years away, so it’s rather premature to say. The objective is to identify the best candidate possible. We are a governing party, and our aspiration should always be victory. I don’t have to be the one. In Gran Canaria, Chano Franquis is the general secretary and he isn’t a candidate for the council. Likewise, the insular general secretary of the Canarian Coalition (Francisco Linares) serves as mayor.

Is it a break or continuity with regard to Pedro Martín?

I regard Pedro Martín very highly, as he has served as mayor of Guía de Isora for a significant period and subsequently became president of the Cabildo. He also successfully reaffirmed his position in the recent elections. When someone steps down, it is essential to express gratitude for their work and bravery. Pedro Martín helped to break the cycle of constant conflict within the Socialist Party, which often culminated in management, and he achieved excellent results for the Canary Islands. There will be aspects we need to adjust, particularly regarding the internal demands of the party for Tenerife to have greater representation in the Canary Islands.

What does the fact that president Rosa Dávila is a woman signify?

It is undoubtedly a positive and commendable development to see women in key positions within institutions, regardless of their political affiliations, representing a shift towards normality. However, it is essential to note that not all women bring a gender perspective, and I occasionally find that Rosa Dávila lacks this. I perceive myself as a woman who is aligned with leftist and feminist values.

Can you outline your political vision for Tenerife?

In the upcoming two months leading to Congress, I plan to engage in active listening. There are pressing needs that must be addressed, one being the issue of roads and the lack of commitment from the current Cabildo Government to execute the projects we previously designed and initiated. The backlog is extensive and it’s no longer about rectifying the situation in a short timeframe. It is unrealistic to claim we will resolve such a serious issue in 90 days. Another significant concern for citizens is housing; we must implement a plan that aligns with the initiatives already established by Ángel Víctor Torres’ Government. While a positive agreement has been signed, the provision of 247 homes does not meet the demand for over 13,000 units needed just for protected housing. Over 200,000 properties remain vacant in the Canary Islands, and we need to leverage those at affordable prices because families require a decent income to make ends meet and parents hope for their young to gain independence. The third critical element is social and health care. We are launching the island-wide social policy framework which requires reinforcement to support our elderly citizens and those with disabilities.

You come across as calm, courteous, and well-mannered. Is it your intention to maintain this approach?

I consider myself passionate about defending my beliefs, but moderate in my manner as we often see an escalation of disputes and disapprovals. It is possible to have ideological disagreements without resorting to personal attacks. That atmosphere of tension has contributed to a degree of disillusionment among the public regarding politics. What we strive for should be improvement, not divisiveness, as the majority of citizens are simply ordinary individuals. They do not desire constant conflict.

How do you assess Vox’s inclusion in the administration of a municipality like Arona?

The rise of the far-right worldwide concerns me significantly, although I respect the democratic process that allows them to exist as they are there because of votes. Their presence in institutions is troubling news. The Popular Party and Canarian Coalition have ignored the red lines by including Vox in the Arona Government.