The Canary Islands face a very important challenge on December 20. There are general elections that some see as if it were a soccer match between the big teams of the League. It is as if the others, the modest ones, did not participate. Curious and sad at the same time.
The general elections in the Canary Islands are traditionally presented as if it were a match between Madrid and Barcelona. Perhaps because of us, many of the nationalist voters are inclined to bet on one of their national teams, the Popular Party (PP) or the Socialist Party (PSOE). For that reason, and only for that reason, the strange circumstance has always occurred that the Canarian Coalition (CC), which was the most voted force to the autonomous Parliament, with the largest number of municipalities and councils, was relegated to a third or fourth place.
On this occasion, unless we are able to reverse the regrettable dynamic, the same thing is going to happen, with the difference that the league has been extended to two other teams, also national. It is no longer a Madrid-Barcelona thing, now Atlético de Madrid and Rayo Vallecano come into play. Atlético de Madrid is that other team from the center that most people like because it has imposed a clear and forceful game system, which attracts people with a speech from its coach that arrives directly, the "game by game". Atleti is Ciudadanos and the role of Cholo Simeone is perfectly defined by Albert Rivera. And then there is Rayo Vallecano, that other team that was fashionable because it has a very media-friendly coach who has brought to the world a groundbreaking game system, of constant attack and joy in the approaches, but with little foundation for a modest team that has enormous shortcomings. A team that aimed high but is finally sinking little by little in the standings. Rayo in this case is Podemos and the good Paco Jémez is represented in politics by the I don't know if so good Pablo Iglesias.
That's where we are, a league of four in which it seems that the others don't play, except in places where they have understood very well that it is important that a strong nationalism represents them in the capital, such as Catalonia and the Basque Country. Why do nationalists who then vote for Madrid or Barsa believe that the Basques and Catalans have achieved so many quotas of self-government, so many advantages over the rest of the citizens of this country? Because they have been strong in Madrid. On some occasions, they have even been fundamental to guarantee the governability of the State. Can anyone imagine what we would achieve for the Islands after December 20 if the Canarian Coalition became the key to governability? I am clear: we would achieve a lot, a lot.
It does not seem fair that Canarian citizens defend national teams to the detriment of our Unión Deportiva Las Palmas, our Tenerife or our Lanzarote. It is neither fair nor logical. And that is what we in the Canarian Coalition (CC) must strive to make people understand before they go to vote in December. It is tremendously important that the fans of the Archipelago support their local teams, even if it is simply to guarantee permanence in the First Division. If they do not help CC in these elections, if they do not give us their support, we will stop having a voice in Madrid and we will move to a strange moment in which matters of general interest are debated in Congress and the Senate without the name of the Canary Islands appearing anywhere. Let no one be fooled, fifteen deputies from the polls in the Canary Islands from Madrid, Barça, Atleti or Rayo will be diluted in the capital as a sugar cube is diluted in the morning coffee. The same thing would happen as it happens now, that we could not follow any of them for four years, because they would not leave a single trace to follow. It must be avoided.
I know that the organization is working hard to make this message loud and clear. For my part, I will try to get the largest number of votes for my colleague Marciano Acuña to the Senate and for the list headed by Pablo Rodríguez to Congress for the province of Las Palmas. And I will do so by asking for the support of all those who feel nationalist at heart, and of all those who, not being nationalists, have understood this simple approach that I have tried to convey.
Think about it: who would we Canarian fans go with if Madrid or Barça were playing the league in a final match against Unión Deportiva Las Palmas or Tenerife that if they lost they would go to the Second Division, with those from the Peninsula or with ours?
By Oswaldo Betancort, number two of CC to the Congress of Deputies for Las Palmas