Ballot paper production halted in Canary Islands coalition name dispute

The Las Palmas provincial electoral board has halted production of ballot papers for a Canary Islands left-wing alliance while it considers a challenge to the coalition’s name and initials.

The alliance, which includes Frente Amplio, Podemos and Nueva Canarias, is standing under the name Unidad del Pueblo Canario. Drago Canarias has challenged its use of the initials UPC, arguing that they could confuse voters and appropriate the initials of a historic Canary Islands nationalist party.

The earlier party, Movimiento UPC (Unión del Pueblo Canario), was founded in 1979 and remains listed in the Interior Ministry’s official register of political parties. It contested several general elections and elections in the Canary Islands.

Drago Canarias argues that the coalition’s use of UPC breaches article 46.4 of Spain’s electoral law. It says the initials are associated with a nationalist left-wing party that won representation in the Spanish parliament and the mayoralty of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 1979.

The electoral board’s decision on the challenge remains pending.