The spokesperson for Sumar in Congress, Verónica Martínez Barbero, has made a call to reinforce the unity of all the alternative left above political discrepancies in the face of the current "reactionary offensive", also incorporating an explicit message of recognition towards Podemos and its leaders, Ione Belarra and Irene Montero.
In his speech during the appearance of the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, in the Plenary Session of Congress, Martínez Barbero has stressed that left-wing formations and parliamentary groups must not allow the "country-sellers" to reach "power", in allusion to the right-wing bloc.
"Out there there is a progressive people that is demanding that we rise to the occasion and that we have to do everything possible for Spain to continue being a democratic country that advances in rights. We from here commit to rising to the occasion, with intelligence, with sensitivity and with a little bit of tenderness, as some told us this Saturday Yolanda Díaz", the deputy stated.
Martínez Barbero has highlighted the different roles played by alternative left organizations, remarking that there are those who are "fighting in the street", those who fight the battle in Parliament and others who do so from the Council of Ministers.
"But we are clear that we are part of the same thing, we are the same with all its nuances and differences, but we know that what is coming is a weaker democracy, a crueler society and a more cowardly politics, and in the face of this, protecting the democratic majority is protecting the possibility for this country to continue advancing, and that requires unity," the spokesperson elaborated.
Recognition to women referents of the left
In the final part of her speech, the representative of Sumar has directed words of support to the leaders who suffer "harassment" or see how a "woman is persecuted for speaking clearly, for expressing an opinion or for occupying public space". "They are not only attacking one person, they are sending a message to all of us: shut up, step aside, go back to your place and that is not just about sexism, it is also about a reactionary offensive that wants a democracy with fewer voices, with less freedom and with fewer women", she warned.
Immediately afterwards, she stressed that these pressures will not take effect and made gestures of recognition towards Montero, Belarra, the spokesperson for Más Madrid in the Madrid City Council, Rita Maestre, as well as towards her colleagues from the plurinational group Tesh Sidi and Aina Vidal, among other progressive leaders.
To conclude, she has insisted that "they are not going to silence" the female leaders of the left, who, although they maintain political discrepancies or differences, share the conviction that "if they touch one of us, they touch all of us." She has also assured that they will continue defending democracy and that the "hatred and violence" coming from the far right does not intimidate them.
In this context, has advocated for the re-edition of the alliance between Sumar, IU, Comuns and Más Madrid, the joint work with allies of the plurinational group such as Compromís, Chunta Aragonesista and Més per Mallorca, and has also included the recognition of other formations such as ERC, Bildu and Podemos.