The decision of the ERC spokesperson in Congress, Gabriel Rufián, to once again head the list of his party in the general elections on November 29 has caused a seismic shift in the alternative left, by reactivating the possibility of an unprecedented understanding between the republicans and Podemos.
With this step, Rufián rejects the offer from the former mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, who proposed him to be a consensus figure among the different lefts within the Frente Amplio, the candidacy promoted by the Comuns alongside IU, Movimiento Sumar, and Más Madrid.
In parallel, Más Madrid has once again unsettled this space by suggesting that the Frente Amplio list for Madrid be headed by the deputy spokesperson of the formation in the regional Assembly, Emilio Delgado, and that the number two be the Minister of Health, Mónica García.
For the first time, moreover, the door is opened for Podemos to integrate into the candidacy in Madrid if it decides to join the project, while IU explicitly supports placing Colau as the head of the list and Sumar shows favor for the tandem she would form with Delgado. In any case, some appeal to the responsibility of the entire left-wing forces to try to consolidate a unitary candidacy, while others insist on demanding discretion regarding internal conversations.
This Sunday, after several weeks of tension in ERC —when it was revealed that the deputy Jordi Albert was being considered as a possible replacement if there was no agreement between the leadership and Rufián—, the party has confirmed that its spokesperson in Congress will repeat as number one in the general elections. At the same time, it has come to light that republicans and Podemos are finalizing a collaboration agreement for this election.
This would be an unprecedented formula for ERC, given that the 'purples' had until now integrated into the space of the Comuns and the state rupture of Podemos with Sumar also blew up that fit. In fact, this formation already stated that Podemos negotiated with ERC for the 2023 general elections, a point that the sovereigntists denied.
Now there are indeed contacts between 'purples' and 'republicans' for a pact that is said to be very advanced, according to sources familiar with the conversations speaking to Europa Press. Among the scenarios being considered is that Rufián could campaign for Podemos in the rest of the State or even a joint brand alliance (ERC-Podem) or under the initials of ERC incorporating independents from the purple environment, according to the same sources.
The Comuns lament Rufián's no to Frente Amplio
Meanwhile, Frente Amplio faces the key week to register coalitions —the deadline before the Electoral Board expires on Friday, October 16— without yet having a designated candidate for the Presidency of the Government nor closed alliances, especially the uncertainty of whether there is room for Podemos to join the candidacy.
The Comuns have expressed their displeasure at the refusal of the future head of the ERC list to integrate into Frente Amplio to maximize the options of the leftist bloc, although they say they respect his decision to run under the republican initials.
"The Comuns remain committed and actively working for the articulation of a state-wide Frente Amplio that responds to the expressed will for unity," they have stated from the formation, which last Friday defended that the Frente Amplio agreement should also include Podemos, Compromís, Chunta Aragonesista, and Més per Mallorca.
At the same time, they celebrate the consensus around the former mayor of Barcelona as the candidate of Frente Amplio, but they maintain the same position as when Colau conditioned her willingness to lead the future coalition on the inclusion of the 'purples' and territorial allies.
Más Madrid proposes Delgado and does not close the door to Podemos
Shortly after Rufián's decision became known, Más Madrid has moved again in the design of the future coalition, once again claiming leadership of the list for Madrid and revealing that their bet to head it is Emilio Delgado, supported by the minister and leader of the formation as number two.
The organization thus maintains its proposal that the candidate for the Presidency of the Government be Colau, but heading the list for Barcelona and breaking the tradition that the state leadership runs for the capital. Their proposal involves the former mayor teaming up with the duo that would be formed by Delgado and García.
This turn occurs after just a few days ago García was the one who was favored to be the candidate of Frente Amplio, while for number one in Barcelona, the minister Urtasun was mentioned. Recently, Más Madrid claimed control over the preparation of the list for the capital and its leadership with its main representatives, and several sources from the party then placed García in the first position in Madrid.
Another relevant novelty is that, for the first time, Más Madrid makes it clear that it is willing to the eventual integration of Podemos into the Madrid candidacy, just as its partners from IU and Movimiento Sumar propose. However, its conditions and the demand for zipper lists based on parity criteria could leave a starting position for Irene Montero up in the air if the purple ones finally accepted to enter Frente Amplio.
For now, Podemos maintains a low profile and avoids publicly commenting on these movements, although the organization reiterates that the holding of open primaries is an indispensable requirement to explore unity with Frente Amplio. Despite this, internal sectors consider Más Madrid's proposal to be unserious, and former deputy Martina Velarde has gone so far as to label it as "pulling someone's leg."
In any case, the 'purple' formation has also surprised with this approach to ERC, which would allow it to count, if the pact is closed, on the media and political pull of Rufián in the campaign.
IU supports Colau and Sumar accepts the tandem with Delgado
The federal coordinator of IU, Antonio Maíllo, has spread a message on social media in which he reminds that his organization has 40 years of history and emphasizes that, in the face of the turmoil on the left, the context demands "broad-mindedness, responsibility, and unity." On several occasions, he has shown his willingness to integrate Podemos into Frente Amplio.
Subsequently, IU has made explicit its support for Colau to head the candidacy, without directly referring to Más Madrid's proposal regarding Emilio Delgado, and insists on demanding responsibility from the rest of the forces to consolidate Frente Amplio as a plural and democratic space.
For her part, the co-coordinator of Movimiento Sumar, Verónica Barbero, has expressed her support for taking on the Colau-Delgado tandem, again demanding that the noise around the negotiations to close the candidacy be reduced.
In sectors of the space, it is considered that Más Madrid's maneuver generates confusion and fuels tensions with its partners. At the same time, the relationship with other territorial allies of the minority partner of the Government remains unclear. Compromís, Chunta, and Més are working to articulate a united left list in their respective constituencies, but led by their own brands and without integrating organically into Frente Amplio, so the agreement would be limited to strictly electoral collaboration.