Joel Arbelo was proclaimed this Thursday as the new island secretary of the Nationalist Youth of Lanzarote and La Graciosa (JNL) after the island Congress held in the Municipal Archive of Arrecife, where the youth organization of the Canarian Coalition renewed its leadership for the next four years. Arbelo, who led the only candidacy presented, assumed the position with a message of commitment and closeness, highlighting the priority of "giving voice to young people and working for a more just, greener, more Canarian and more our own Lanzarote."
Arbelo will be accompanied on his new journey by a team that combines experience and renewal and that, among its main positions, includes Nauzet Rodríguez in the Organization Secretariat, Aisha Delgado as Deputy Secretary of Organization, Sergio Niz in charge of Communication and Political Strategy, Alberto Hernández in Universities, Kevin Barrios in Equality and Diversity, Natalia Niz in Canarian Identity and Culture, and Laura Martín in Education and Training.
During his speech, the new secretary especially thanked those who have accompanied him on his journey, highlighting the learning he has received and the commitment to "a close policy, with humility and with a real commitment to our people."
Balance
The outgoing island secretary, Maciot Cabrera, made an assessment of the work carried out in recent years, highlighting the "advances in training, political action and youth participation," and conveyed a message of continuity and support to the new team: the generational change, he said, reinforces the nationalist project on the island.
The Congress also included the participation of prominent representatives from the Canarian Coalition, including David Toledo, national secretary of Organization of CC, who highlighted the relevance of the Nationalist Youth within the party's structure at the regional level and their ability to contribute ideas and commitment from all the islands; Pedro San Ginés, general secretary of CC in Lanzarote and La Graciosa, who congratulated Arbelo and underscored the solidity of a handover that guarantees the future of the organization; and Echedey Eugenio, local secretary of CC and candidate for Mayor of Arrecife, who opened the event highlighting the "importance of keeping the nationalist spirit alive from youth, with enthusiasm and roots."
The event was also attended by the Deputy General Secretary of the Nationalist Youth of the Canary Islands, Diana Lorenzo, who highlighted "the work of the outgoing leadership and encouraged the new executive to continue showing the organization's commitment to the Canary Islands"; as well as the National Deputy Secretary of the JNC for Youth Policies and Higher Education, Cristina Calero, who was part of the Age Committee along with Alberto Hernández.
Also present, among other public representatives and organizational positions of the nationalist formation, were the Deputy Secretary of Organization of CC Lanzarote and La Graciosa, Abigail González; and Aroa Revelo, who, in addition to being the outgoing Secretary of Organization of the JNL, holds the Deputy Secretariat of Territorial Action, Municipal and Organizational Coordination in the island leadership of CC Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
Draft Resolutions
During the meeting, two proposed resolutions focused on housing and territory were presented and debated, with the aim of incorporating the concerns and contributions of Lanzarote's youth into the island's political debate. These presentations, defended by Aroa Revelo and Jesús Machín, secretary of Territorial Policy of the island's Executive, raised the "need to specifically address the protection of the territory and the search for solutions that facilitate access to housing for new generations, issues that dominated much of the debate among attendees."
Beginning with the performance of the anthem of the Canary Islands by Sara Bermúdez, named a member of the Political Council of the JNL and who was accompanied by José Vicente Pérez on the timple and Adrián Niz on the guitar, the Congress concluded with a call for "unity and constant work for the nationalist youth and with a message of determination from Joel Arbelo: the youth of Lanzarote face challenges -employment, housing, mental health, education and defense of the environment and island culture- that will not stop their momentum, but will strengthen it."
Profile
Joel Arbelo Delgado, born in La Vegueta in 1997, has developed his entire life and political career closely linked to his municipality and the island of Lanzarote.
Trained in International Commerce at CIFP Zonzamas, he began his political career in 2015 with Sara Bermúdez, who also took over the leadership of the JNL at the time, following a family tradition of commitment to public life.
Between 2019 and 2023, he served as a councilor in the Tinajo City Council, where he assumed the areas of Citizen Participation, Tourism, Sociocultural Premises, and Municipal Radio.
In addition, he has been a member of the National Youth Tagoror and currently serves as Secretary of Equality and Diversity for the Nationalist Youth of the Canary Islands.
