Torres says young far‑right supporters are Democrats but don’t know it

The Canary Islands minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, asserted on Saturday that many young people who back the far right are, in fact, democrats—though they are unaware of it.

Speaking to the press in Tenerife before attending a gathering of young public representatives as secretary‑general of the PSOE Canarias, Torres explained that a significant portion of those who support extremist right‑wing parties do so “influenced by false messages.”

“There are young people who are democrats but don’t know it. We have to show them that they are, because, among other things, they defend the right to love whomever they choose—something that can only be achieved through democracy—and they want equality, which did not exist during the absence of freedoms. Therefore, they are democrats but they don’t know it.”

Torres highlighted how social media amplifies these misleading narratives, noting that many youths claim life was better before democracy and chant slogans that are “outside the Constitution.”

“That message is absolutely contrary to what was achieved regarding housing, employment, social security and extra payments during the years of the Francoist dictatorship. It was all the opposite.”

He reminded listeners that the “great achievements” and rights of the Second Republic were “annihilated by the Francoist dictatorship.”

“To these young people—I have to tell them—that if their model is the far right, the far right is the one that defends the dictatorial model and does not condemn it, also fails to rigorously fight gender‑based violence. I say this especially to young women.”