Ángel Víctor Torres, the Decree and the Canary Islands' Tug-of-War: Beyond Politics, an Analysis of Power and Business

What's happening these days in Canarian politics goes beyond mere parliamentary debate. The tug-of-war between Ángel Víctor Torres and the current president, Fernando Clavijo, over the so-called decree, isn't just another anecdote in the islands' turbulent history. For those who can read between the lines, it's a masterstroke on the chessboard of power, one that redefines alliances, lays bare ambitions, and, most importantly for us, opens a scenario of uncertainty that directly impacts investor confidence.

I've covered dozens of political crises throughout my career, and when I see the Socialist Group in San Sebastián de La Gomera accusing CC of imposing a "unilateral decree" that doesn't reflect the "Canarian Agenda," I know we're dealing with more than just a spat. We are witnessing the chronicle of a death foretold: that of stability. And in business, stability is everything. It's not about political sympathies; it's about predictability. A decree born without sufficient consensus is a millstone for any project requiring medium to long-term legal certainty.

The Ex-President's Strategy: Much More Than a 'No'

Ángel Víctor Torres's move is straight out of a political film school textbook. He hasn't just opposed it; he's extended a hand, or rather, he's invited Clavijo to present his decree in the Congress so he can "test his support." Translation: "Go through the exercise of transparency, prove you have the numbers, and we'll see who really backs you." It's a brilliant manoeuvre because it forces into the light what many were cooking up in the dark.

The Socialist, knowing the ground he walks on, understands that variable geometry in Parliament is a dying art. What he's proposing, deep down, is a public exposure of the other side's weaknesses. And in this game, the one who shows cracks, loses. Not just in politics, but also in the confidence of markets and productive sectors that need to know where they stand.

The Price of Governability: Who Foots the Bill?

This is where my financial analyst side takes over from the political scientist. The Canary Islands aren't a deserted island in the middle of the Atlantic; they're an outermost region with a constant flow of European funds, pressing structural needs, and a business community that depends on certainty. The "irresponsibility and lack of dialogue" denounced by the PSOE isn't just a slogan. When a regional government digs in its heels over a decree without sufficient backing, it's effectively mortgaging the future.

Let's think about the key sectors:

• Tourism: Needs stable frameworks and joint promotion. A political dispute diverts attention from what's urgent.
• Renewable Energies: Require multi-million euro investments over 20 or 30-year horizons. Legislative instability brings them to a grinding halt.
• Primary Sector: Depends on aid and subsidies whose processing grinds to a halt in a confrontational climate.

The cost of this discord isn't paid by the politicians in their seats; it's paid by business owners who daren't invest, by entrepreneurs watching their licences get delayed, and, at the end of the chain, by workers. And mark my words, this last point is a breeding ground for social unrest that, ultimately, always exacts its price at the ballot box.

Culture and Power: What the Latest Exhibition Catalogue Reveals

While the parties get tangled up in decrees and majorities, civil society continues on, oblivious to these power games. Just this week, in an event away from the political spotlight, the exhibition catalogue for a show depicting the evolution of power on the islands over the last century was launched in Santa Cruz. It's quite telling how, in those photographs and documents, you can sense the same tension between island centralism and peripheral demands that Torres and Clavijo are acting out today. It's a mirror reminding us that these struggles aren't new, but each generation fights them with its own weapons. History, and that exhibition's catalogue, teaches us that when leadership becomes isolated, the territory ends up suffering.

A Note of Sanity in a Sea of Noise

While the sound and fury of political infighting continues, it's revealing that some town councils, like the one in San Sebastián de La Gomera (the image opening this analysis), keep on with their day-to-day work. Local politics – the politics of water management, public works, and licences – is often the real thermometer of a territory. But when storms brew from above, the councils, regardless of who's in charge, end up getting splashed. The responsibility of island and municipal leaders to shield their citizens from these high-level battles is immense, though we know it's a near-impossible mission.

Conclusion: The Chessboard Resets

What we have on the table is much more than a disagreement over a legal text. It's confirmation that the government pact in the Canaries is, to say the least, fragile. Ángel Víctor Torres's move has been skilful: he's put Clavijo on the ropes, forcing him to demonstrate his leadership and ability to garner support. If the decree falls in Congress, the damage to the current president will be immense. If it survives, Torres can claim it was a "miracle" propped up by support that doesn't represent the Canarian will.

For those of us watching this with an investor's eye and a long-term perspective, the signal is clear: political risk in the Canary Islands has gone up. And in a globalised world where capital seeks safe havens, instability comes at a high price. The era of backroom deals is over; now it's time to dance in the Congress, and as with any dance, a wrong step can be very costly. We'll see who ends up stepping on whose toes.