The parliamentary spokesperson for IU and deputy for Sumar, Enrique Santiago, indicated this Thursday that they will analyze the initiative proposed by the spokesperson for ERC, Gabriel Rufián, to create a new state-level left-wing space. However, he already anticipates that he does not see in it an authentic project for the country and issues a warning against "exaggerated egos" and the "risk of hyper-leadership".
"We think the offers from people willing to work for the unity of the state-level left are very good, and we are delighted to analyze any concrete proposal made to us," Santiago declared in Congress, opening himself up to studying the idea.
In this regard, he stressed that any initiative of this type must be built on clear "political, programmatic, and strategic" foundations and through "collective organizational processes," in which both political forces and social movements participate.
"I believe that in these years we have learned a lot about the risks of hyper-leadership," said the IU leader, who also pointed out that, "frankly," the formula proposed by Rufián does not yet have "a basis on which a government alternative can be articulated," although he specified that they are still waiting for it to be detailed.
For this reason, the communist leader reiterated that "any proposal is welcome" because they are "people open to studying any possibility" and explained that they are immersed in a process of consolidating "a step forward" around the organizations integrated into the Sumar coalition, while also showing themselves to be "very interested in greater convergences" and in deepening that path.
"SPAIN NEEDS A STATE-LEVEL LEFT-WING PROJECT"
When questioned about Rufián's statements that the country's problem is "the national left-wings" and about the inclusion of formations like Izquierda Unida or Sumar, Santiago defended the need for a "project for the country" that includes all citizens who live and work "in any of the territories".
In his opinion, Spain needs "a state-level left-wing project," and within that framework, it is about "adding" and bringing together the different progressive forces. "Anyone who discriminates, creates distinctions, or excludes left-wing forces makes a mistake. But well, that's the problem of whoever does it," he warned.
The Sumar parliamentarian recalled that they have always been committed to articulating common spaces between forces of a state scope and formations of a "more limited, regional, national" territorial scope, and cited the Sumar coalition itself as an example. In this regard, he emphasized that they are working to strengthen the coordination space between the various left-wing parties, because he considers that "it is really what will allow there to continue to be a left-wing government in Spain".
"EXCESSIVE EGOS ARE A PROBLEM ON THE LEFT"
In the same vein, in an interview on "TVE", reported by Europa Press, Santiago stressed that "excessive egos" have been "a problem on the left". Furthermore, he defended that the "state left" has "more than proven its concern for defending and improving the lives of the working class".
Likewise, he confessed that he is "eager" for someone to detail Rufián's proposal to them, because they have requested it on several occasions and have not yet had "the luck" to receive an explanation. He also assured that they maintain full willingness to dialogue and take part in that initiative. "Of course," he concluded.