From La Palma, the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, delivered a New Year's message aimed especially at all mainland Spaniards, though without naming them, who live in the archipelago: “Being Canarian isn't just about being born here and having our roots here. Being Canarian is also about choosing to stay. Choosing to be part of this land, working here, respecting it, loving it, and taking care of it.”
One way to remember that if, for example, there is a resident discount for air or land transport, it is a result of Canarian nationalism and not so much of the PP or PSOE, which, in the islands, tend to be buffer parties.
Clavijo emphasized that rootedness implies commitment and responsibility. “Because while in Madrid they remain entrenched in sterile confrontation, in the Canary Islands we opt for public service and effective politics. Because while others launch into a suicidal fight, in the Canary Islands we work,” he stated, recalling that the strength of the archipelago lies in the unity of all its inhabitants.
The president highlighted the progress achieved in 2025 thanks to collective effort: record employment figures, reduced healthcare waiting lists, improvements in long-term care, and laws to accelerate housing construction. “And that is thanks to the Canary Islands' productive sector, our self-employed workers, our SMEs, our agricultural cooperatives, our tourism professionals, our technology sector, and our industry,” he said, expressly including mainland Spaniards who have put down roots and contribute daily to the island's prosperity.
Clavijo issued a clear appeal in the face of the challenges of 2026: “I sincerely hope that this new year brings us serenity, dialogue, and agreements. That we leave the noise behind and focus on what truly matters: improving people's lives.” He added that defending the Canary Islands requires the involvement of everyone: natives and residents, united against cuts from the central government or Europe, to protect the archipelago's agriculture, livestock farming, and landscape.
The president concluded his message from a palm grove built on recent lava flows, a symbol of resilience: “A future that is built every day with the same tenacity with which our grandparents raised terraces and tended their crops.” With this call, Clavijo reminded everyone who lives in the Canary Islands, whether they have island or mainland roots, that they have a duty: to make this land their own, to care for it, and to defend it as their own.
