Ángel Víctor Torres Pérez (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈaŋxel ˈβiɣtoɾ ˈtores ˈpeɾeθ]; born 30 March 1966) is a Spanish politician currently serving as minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory since 2023 and secretary-general of the Socialist Party of the Canaries (PSC–PSOE) since 2019. Before that, he served as president of the Canary Islands from 2019 to 2023.

Early life and education

Born on 30 March 1966, in Arucas, on the island of Gran Canaria, Ángel Víctor Torres obtained a degree in Hispanic Philology at the University of La Laguna.[1] He became a high school professor of language and literature in 1991.[2][1]

Career

Torres entered politics in 1999 when he became a municipal Councillor in Arucas and was elected to the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) list, served as mayor of the municipality in two spells (2003–2007 and 2011–2015).[3]

From 2009 to 2011, he served as a member of the Congress of Deputies, taking in the vacant seat left by Juan Fernando López Aguilar in 2009,[4] who was later elected to the European Parliament.

He was elected as the secretary-general of the PSC-PSOE in July 2017.[2] Following the results of the 2019 Canarian regional election (in which Torres was elected member of the Parliament of the Canary Islands), Torres (representing the PSC-PSOE) reached a deal with the leaders of the New Canaries, Sí Podemos and Gomera Socialist Group (respectively, Román Rodríguez, Noemí Santana and Casimiro Curbelo) in June 2019 to form a regional government headed by Torres that would oust the government of the Canarian Coalition after a 26-year-long rule of the Canary Islands.[5]

On 21 November 2023, King Felipe VI appointed him as minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory in the third government of Pedro Sánchez.

References

  1. ^ a b "Ángel Víctor Torres". La Provincia (in Spanish). 12 May 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2020.[dead link]
  2. ^ a b "El 'sanchista' Ángel Víctor Torres, nuevo secretario general del PSOE de Canarias". InfoLibre (in Spanish). 23 July 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  3. ^ Albalá, África (20 June 2019). "Ángel Víctor Torres, un filólogo comprometido con el sanchismo". 20minutos.es (in Spanish).
  4. ^ "Torres Pérez, Ángel Víctor". Congress of Deputies (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  5. ^ Murillo, Pedro (20 June 2019). "El PSOE logra un acuerdo con la izquierda para gobernar en Canarias". El País. Prisa. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Arucas
2003-2007
Succeeded by
Preceded by Mayor of Arucas
2011-2015
Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the Canary Islands
2019–2023
Succeeded by
Fernando Clavijo
Party political offices
Preceded by Secretary-General of the Socialist Workers' Party of Canaries
2017–present
Succeeded by
Incumbent
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