Ángel Víctor Torres Pérez

Ángel Víctor Torres Pérez is a Spanish PSOE politician and the current Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory.

Political career

Born in 1966, Ángel Víctor Torres Pérez built his political career in the Canary Islands, combining local, regional and national roles within the Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE). His trajectory reflects a classic PSOE pathway through municipal politics and regional institutions before reaching the Spanish cabinet.

He was first elected and developed as a member of the Parliament of Canarias, where he gained experience in regional legislative politics and the dynamics of island governance. He also served as Senator for Gran Canaria, giving him exposure to the upper chamber and to territorial issues that often define the Spanish state.

His most substantial early executive responsibility came as Mayor of Arucas from 2011 to 2019. During this period he became a prominent local figure in Gran Canaria politics, combining municipal administration with a profile inside the Canarian Socialist federation. The mayoralty gave him executive experience in a municipality with strong local political identity and reinforced his standing in the islands.

In 2019, he was elected President of Canarias, leading the regional government until 2023. This was the key institutional stage of his career, placing him at the centre of island, regional and state-level policy coordination, especially on issues linked to social policy, territorial balance, the economy and the management of inter-institutional relations. His presidency also strengthened his role within the PSOE as a figure capable of governing in a fragmented and plural territorial context.

In 2023, he entered the Spanish central government as Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, a role in which he oversees relations between the central state and Spain’s autonomous communities, as well as policies connected with democratic memory and the institutional legacy of the Franco era. This appointment confirmed his profile as a politician with experience in territorial governance and dialogue between administrations.

Relationship with the public

Torres is generally seen as a pragmatic and institutionally focused politician rather than a highly ideological or confrontational one. His public image has been shaped more by administration and negotiation than by rhetorical force, which has helped him across different electoral and institutional settings.

As mayor and later as regional president, he developed a reputation for accessibility and proximity in a political environment where local leadership and personal contact remain important. In the Canary Islands, where politics is often strongly shaped by proximity, local grievances and the balance between islands, this style has been an asset.

His relationship with the media has usually been predictable and government-centred: he presents himself as a disciplined socialist leader comfortable with institutional communication. At regional level, he often had to handle sensitive issues such as migration, tourism, public services and territorial inequality, which placed him regularly in the public eye. His communication style has typically aimed at reassurance and management rather than polarisation.

Among civil society actors, his standing has tended to reflect his positions in government: cooperative with institutional stakeholders, attentive to trade unions and social organisations, and broadly aligned with the PSOE’s emphasis on public services and territorial cohesion. Critics, however, have sometimes viewed him as too closely tied to the logic of the governing apparatus, rather than as an especially disruptive reformer.

Positions and political profile

Ángel Víctor Torres is associated with the PSOE’s moderate, territorial and social-democratic wing. His profile is rooted in practical governance, especially in contexts where cooperation between different levels of government is essential.

He has consistently defended territorial cohesion, the role of autonomous communities within Spain’s constitutional framework, and the importance of dialogue over institutional confrontation. This makes him particularly relevant in the ministry he now leads, where political negotiation with regional governments is central. His experience in the Canary Islands has also made him sensitive to the specific needs of peripheral and island territories, including transport, connectivity and public investment.

During his time as president of Canarias, he was linked to policies centred on social welfare, public services, economic recovery and crisis management. He gained visibility in highly demanding circumstances, including the post-pandemic recovery period and the management of intergovernmental coordination. His style is generally associated with incremental policy-making rather than symbolic gestures.

Inside the PSOE, Torres is often seen as a reliable territorial operator with executive experience. He is not usually identified with the party’s most ideologically prominent factions, but rather with its managerial and institutional core. Outside the party, supporters regard him as a stable administrator, while opponents may criticise him as a conventional socialist leader closely aligned with the central government.

A defining element of his career has been the move from municipal leadership to regional presidency and then to the central cabinet, a progression that underlines his competence in territorial politics. His appointment as minister also reflects the PSOE’s trust in his ability to handle delicate relations with Spain’s autonomous communities while maintaining the party’s message on democratic memory and institutional renewal.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Ángel Víctor Torres? He is a Spanish PSOE politician born in 1966, currently serving as Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory in the Spanish government.

What offices has Ángel Víctor Torres held? He has been Mayor of Arucas (2011–2019), President of Canarias (2019–2023), a member of the Parliament of Canarias, a Senator for Gran Canaria, and since 2023 a minister in the Spanish government.

What is Ángel Víctor Torres known for politically? He is known for his territorial profile, his experience in Canary Islands politics, and his emphasis on dialogue between institutions and public administration.

What party does Ángel Víctor Torres belong to? He belongs to the Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE), the main centre-left party in Spain.

How is Ángel Víctor Torres perceived publicly? He is generally viewed as a moderate, pragmatic and institutional politician, with a reputation for administrative experience rather than ideological confrontation.

Why is Ángel Víctor Torres important in Spanish politics? Because he has held key roles in both regional government and the central state, making him a significant figure in Spain’s territorial politics and intergovernmental relations.