Asamblea Majorera marks 50 years, looking to Madrid and unity among Canarian nationalists

Asamblea Majorera–Coalición Canaria celebrated its 50th anniversary on Saturday at the Tetir wrestling arena. The gathering paid tribute to those who spearheaded the majorero nationalist movement and called for Fuerteventura’s right to decide its future. Half a century after its foundation, the party is looking ahead to the next general election, aiming to regain representation in Madrid and strengthen unity among Canarian nationalists.

Asamblea Majorera’s secretary-general, Mario Cabrera, remembered the men and women who organised in the early years of democracy to demand improvements for the island.

“It was born in the villages, in the teleclubs, in the squares, out of the demands of men and women,” he said, noting that the organisation has retained its grassroots, campaigning spirit.

Cabrera acknowledged the successes and mistakes of the past five decades and highlighted the generational change in the institutions.

“There is no turning back on nationalist unity”

The secretary-general drew parallels between the current political situation and the first democratic elections, when Asamblea Majorera had to compete with the major national parties.

“The noise in Madrid has been so loud that it has drowned out our voice in the Canary Islands, especially in Fuerteventura,” he warned.

He defended nationalist candidates for Congress and the Senate, with Nuria Cabrera standing for the upper house and Teodoro Sosa and Juan José for Congress.

He also acknowledged shortcomings: “We need to be out on the streets more so that our message reaches people and we can explain it to them.”

On possible electoral alliances between national parties, he said they could create opportunities for Canarian nationalism and welcomed Primero Canarias joining the shared project.

“There is no turning back on nationalist unity,” he said.

Lola García: “We will not allow anyone to come and decide for us”

The president of the Fuerteventura Island Council, Lola García, paid tribute to the founders’ legacy and highlighted the responsibility of those currently holding public office.

“We have learned a great deal from that struggle, and we will not allow anyone to come and decide for us,” she said.

García cited energy policy as an example of the issues being fought for. She recalled that Fuerteventura’s representatives, particularly Puerto del Rosario Mayor David de Vera, had to travel to Madrid to defend the island’s interests, following the example of those who came before them and warned that the island should not settle “for crumbs”.

A new generation takes up the mantle

Shortly afterwards, David de Vera said it was a source of great pride to be there that day, not only to mark 50 years, “but also to recognise what this means to us as grassroots members of this party, and to honour the men and women of Asamblea Majorera who have contributed to the development of Fuerteventura and to the efforts and sacrifices made in the island’s development”.

Tuineje Mayor David Herrera also spoke, highlighting his municipality’s special connection to Asamblea Majorera’s origins and recalling that the movement began there.

He also paid tribute to Simeón, known as Gillo, a former mayor of Tuineje and one of the party’s founders, who died two days before the anniversary.

Herrera said the new generations remained committed to the project launched half a century ago.

Enrique Pérez, a Tuineje councillor and Island Council member, stressed the importance of keeping the movement alive and continuing to work for Fuerteventura through the institutions. Alexis Alonso, Pájara’s first deputy mayor, made a similar point.

Teodoro Sosa calls for nationalist unity

Teodoro Sosa, Primero Canarias–Coalición Canaria’s candidate for the Congress of Deputies, linked the anniversary to efforts to reunite Canarian nationalism.

“Fuerteventura would not be what it is today without the history of Asamblea Majorera,” he said, recalling that the movement grew out of social mobilisation in response to the island’s shortcomings.

Sosa welcomed the rapprochement between nationalist organisations after two decades of division.

“Today we are returning to the shared home of Canarian nationalism,” he said, noting that the alliance brings together 20 political organisations.

Coalición Canaria MP Cristina Valido brought the speeches to a close, championing Asamblea Majorera’s spirit and its political independence from the major national parties.

“We know how important it is not to be anyone’s middlemen, not to be anyone’s branch office, to have freedom, not to be bound by a party whip, to always be able to speak about our land and to make others listen to our reality,” she concluded.