Coalición Canaria-Primero Canarias Unveils ‘Defiende Canarias’ Programme
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SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 9 Nov. — Coalición Canaria-Primero Canarias launched its election programme, ‘Defiende Canarias’, during a press conference in Tegueste on Monday. The initiative outlines ten key issues and 100 actions aimed at safeguarding the rights, resources, and priorities of the Canary Islands.
Cristina Valido, head of the party’s congressional list for Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and Teodoro Sosa, candidate for Las Palmas, emphasised that their proposals are rooted in the distinctive needs of the islands. They stressed the importance of transforming the archipelago’s uniqueness into enforceable rights, adequate funding, and improved public services.
Valido asserted that adherence to the ‘Canary Agenda’ will be a non-negotiable condition for any government formed after the elections. She called for representatives whose primary loyalty lies with the Canary Islands, prioritising local needs over the polarising agendas of mainland parties.
Sosa highlighted the programme’s political significance, seeing the coalition’s presence in the national parliament as a chance to consolidate the Canary Islands’ voice amid political fragmentation. Both candidates reiterated the need for decisions made in Madrid to reflect the requirements of all 88 municipalities and the eight islands.
The proposed actions include improving mobility services, enhancing public transport funding, responding compassionately to migration challenges, and upholding local legislation. With a rising number of migrants in El Hierro, Valido called for greater state accountability and assistance from Europe to tackle this issue collaboratively.
In housing, the coalition plans to push for an eight-year multiyear fund for affordable public housing. They also aim to implement legal reforms to limit property purchases by non-resident foreigners and regulate vacation rentals in high-demand areas.
Addressing the cost of island living, Sosa urged an update to state compensation to cover the full costs of transporting goods between the islands and the mainland, arguing that living expenses are consistently higher in the Canaries.
Valido further advocated for the development of the Statute of Autonomy, recognition of the islands as an outermost region within the EU, and adequate financial resources designed specifically for public services in the Canaries.
The ‘Defiende Canarias’ programme also aims to sustain funding for the primary sector, launch a four-year employment plan for those under 35, and enhance resources for healthcare, dependent care, and mental health services.
