The Electoral Board paralyzes the ballots of the left-wing candidacy in the Canary Islands until it resolves whether it "usurps" an acronym
Drago Canarias denounces that the alliance of Frente Amplio, Nueva Canarias and Podemos improperly uses the acronym of a historic Canarian nationalist party
Quick Look
The Provincial Electoral Board of Las Palmas has suspended the printing of the ballots of the Canarian People's Unity coalition (Frente Amplio, Podemos and Nueva Canarias) following a complaint from Drago Canarias, which alleges that the acronym UPC usurps the name of the historic UPC Movement, founded in 1979 and still registered with the Ministry of the Interior.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The UPC Movement (Unión del Pueblo Canario) was founded in 1979, ran in several general and Canary Islands elections, and is still registered in the official party registry of the Ministry of the Interior. Drago Canarias filed a complaint with the Provincial Electoral Board of Las Palmas challenging the UPC name of the Frente Amplio, Podemos and Nueva Canarias coalition for inducing confusion among the electorate.
The Provincial Electoral Board of Las Palmas has paralyzed the preparation of the ballots for the alternative left candidacy in the Canary Islands, in which the Frente Amplio, Podemos and Nueva Canarias participate, until it resolves whether the name of this alliance, Unidad del Pueblo Canario, has usurped the official name of a historic Canarian nationalist party with the use of the acronym UPC.
The complaint has been presented by the Drago Canarias party, which has challenged the name of UPC before the Electoral Board for "inducing confusion among the electorate and usurping the current and historical acronym of the sovereignty policy in the Canary Islands."
The party in question is Movimiento UPC (Unión del Pueblo Canario), which was founded in 1979, running in several general elections and those of the Canary Islands and which is still registered in the official registry of parties at the Ministry of the Interior.
Drago Canarias considers that the use of the UPC brand by the Frente Amplio, Nueva Canarias and Podemos coalition "flagrantly" violates article 46.4 of the LOREG by deliberately evoking two foreign political realities, since UPC is a reference brand of the nationalist left that obtained representation in the Cortes Generales and the mayor's office of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 1979.
The election referee has accepted this contentious administrative-electoral appeal by Drago Canarias for processing and has made the first decision to "postpone the preparation of ballots" to Congress and the Senate for the contested candidacy until it is resolved whether the current UPC can use that name.
In the notification, which EL MUNDO has accessed, the Electoral Board of Las Palmas agrees "that the formations cannot use the ballots sent in electronic format and affected" by the stoppage "until the resolution of the contentious administrative appeal and, where appropriate, appeal for protection."
Drago Canarias demands that the current UPC change its name so that the Canary Islands can vote freely and informed without distortions.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Electoral Board will resolve the contentious administrative appeal and determine if the coalition can use the name UPC
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- When will the Electoral Board resolve the contentious administrative appeal?
- Should the coalition change its name or acronym?
- What effect will the shutdown have on the printing of ballots for Congress and the Senate?
