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 warns about "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 said in Congress, emphasizing that they will study the idea without ruling it out from the outset.
Along these lines, 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, and not around individual figures.
"I believe that in these years we have learned a lot about the risks of hyper-leadership," stated Santiago, who added that, "frankly," that formula does not have "a basis on which a government alternative can be articulated," although he specified that they are still waiting for the proposal to be detailed so they can evaluate it in depth.
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 in a process of building "a step forward" around the organizations integrated into the Sumar coalition, while also showing themselves to be "very interested in greater convergences" and in consolidating that common space.
"SPAIN NEEDS A STATE-LEVEL LEFT-WING PROJECT"
When questioned about Rufián's words that the problem in this country is "the national left-wings" and about the role 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 left-wing project at the state level" and that is why it is about "adding" and articulating unity between different progressive forces. "Anyone who discriminates, makes distinctions, or excludes left-wing forces makes a mistake. But well, that's the problem of whoever does it," he warned, distancing himself from any exclusionary approach.
The Sumar deputy recalled that they have always opted for convergence between forces at the state level and formations with a "more limited, regional, national" territorial presence, citing the Sumar coalition itself as an example. In this context, he insisted that their objective is to strengthen the coordination space of the different left-wing parties, since, as he said, "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." At the same time, he defended that the "state left" has "more than proven its concern for defending and improving the lives of the working class," vindicating its trajectory.
Furthermore, he confessed that he is "eager" for someone to explain Rufián's proposal to them in detail, because they have requested it on several occasions and have not yet had "the luck" to receive a concrete answer. Similarly, he assured that they maintain full willingness to sit down to negotiate and get involved in that initiative if it finally materializes. "Of course," he concluded.