Comuns have highlighted the broad support that the possibility of the former mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, being the candidate for the general elections on November 29 generates within Sumar. However, they warn that conversations remain open and emphasize that their goal is to broaden the project to more parties, explicitly mentioning Podemos, Compromís, Chunta Aragonesista, and Més.
From the Catalan formation, they explain that they have set a series of conditions to continue advancing in the configuration of the coalition, among them the need to keep expanding the Frente Amplio to more forces, including the 'purples'.
In this line, they align with the same position as the former councilor of the Catalan capital, who this Thursday expressed that she was willing to be a candidate for the Frente Amplio, as long as the 'purples' and the rest of the territorial allies with whom Comuns have shared a parliamentary group in Congress were integrated.
"No one is surplus," they have emphasized from Comuns to underline that their will is for all these formations to join the Frente Amplio and that it is necessary to find "the formula that best adapts to their reality." Furthermore, they have insisted that "it is time for generosity and openness."
At the same time, they maintain that it is essential "to reach and announce a global agreement where all forces feel represented," something that, they emphasize, requires "dialogue and discretion."
In this context, they detail that this is the position they defend for the Frente Amplio and point out that negotiations with Movimiento Sumar, IU, and Más Madrid are progressing "in the right direction" in order to articulate a "strong and plural" coalition, although they remain "open," despite considering it a "good news" that Colau is willing to take on the leadership and is a "consensus name."
The conversations among the forces that make up the Frente Amplio cover several fronts and focus on defining who will be the candidate for the Presidency, the constituency for which they will run, and the position that the main representatives of each party will occupy on the lists.
Along with this, another key issue is added: the role that Podemos would have in the event of reaching a coalition agreement with the 'purples', who maintain as a condition for unity with the formations of Frente Amplio the holding of open primaries to choose a candidate --to which former minister Irene Montero would present herself--.
The internal climate has become tense after Más Madrid proposed that the former mayor of Barcelona be the candidate for the Presidency of the Government, but heading the constituency of Barcelona instead of doing so for the capital. This proposal implied that the Minister of Health, Mónica García, would be left out of that race despite having been strongly mentioned in the betting pools. In exchange, according to sources from the formation, their proposal was for the minister to lead the list for Madrid and reserve the top positions for their main leaders.
Various sectors linked to Frente Amplio recognize that the list for Madrid, and consequently that of Barcelona, constitutes the main focus of friction and that Más Madrid's intention to dominate it is excessive, so a balance would need to be reached with the partners. However, there are also voices that understand that the formation does not want to give up on García being the head of the list for Madrid.