The decision of the ERC spokesperson in Congress, Gabriel Rufián, to run again as the head of his party's list for the general elections on November 29 has altered the board of the alternative left, by opening the door to an unprecedented understanding between the republicans and Podemos.
With this move, Rufián rejects the offer from the former mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, for him to act as a link among the different progressive forces by integrating into Frente Amplio, the candidacy promoted by the Comuns along with IU, Movimiento Sumar, and Más Madrid.
In parallel, Más Madrid has once again stirred this space by proposing that the Frente Amplio list for the capital 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, in addition, Más Madrid is open to the incorporation of Podemos into the candidacy in Madrid if this formation decides to join the project, while IU explicitly expresses its support for placing Colau as a candidate and Sumar shows favor for the tandem of the former mayor with Delgado. In any case, the former appeal to the responsibility of all leftist forces to try to close a united candidacy and the latter 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 alternative in case of disagreement between the leadership and Rufián—, the party has ratified that its spokesperson in Congress will repeat as the head of the list in the general elections. At the same time that his appointment was confirmed, it has come to light that the republicans and Podemos are shaping a collaboration agreement for this election.
This would be an unprecedented alliance for ERC, given that the 'purples' had so far been integrated into the Comuns space, and the state-level break of Podemos with Sumar ended up also breaking that area. In fact, this formation already stated that Podemos negotiated with ERC for the 2023 general elections, a claim that the sovereignists denied.
On this occasion, there are indeed conversations between 'morados' and 'republicanos' for a pact that would be very advanced, according to sources familiar with the negotiation speaking to Europa Press. Among the options being considered is that Rufián could participate in Podemos' campaign in the rest of the State or even a formula for an alliance with a joint electoral brand (ERC-Podem) or under the initials of ERC incorporating independents from Podemos, according to the same sources.
The Comuns regret Rufián's refusal to Frente Amplio
Meanwhile, Frente Amplio enters a key week for the registration of electoral coalitions —the deadline before the Electoral Board concludes on Friday, October 16— without yet having a candidate for the Presidency of the Government nor finalized alliances with other forces, especially the uncertainty of whether there will be room for Podemos to join their lists.
For their part, the Comuns have expressed their regret that the future candidate of ERC has ruled out joining Frente Amplio to maximize the options of the left in these elections, 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 concluded in the formation, which last Friday defended that any eventual agreement should also include Podemos, Compromís, Chunta Aragonesista, and Més per Mallorca.
At the same time, they celebrate the broad consensus around the former mayor of Barcelona as the candidate of Frente Amplio, but they insisted on that same line when Colau conditioned her willingness to lead the coalition on the inclusion of the 'morados' and territorial partners.
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 demanding the leadership of the list for Madrid and revealing that their bet to head it is Emilio Delgado, supported by the minister and party leader as 'number two'.
Thus, the formation maintains its proposal that the candidate for the Presidency of the Government be Colau, but leading the list for Barcelona and breaking the tradition that the head of the ticket presents for the capital. Their proposal involves the former mayor teaming up with the duo formed by Delgado and García.
It is a new twist in this space, given that just a few days ago it was García who was sounding like the main candidate of Frente Amplio and Minister Urtasun was being considered as number one for Barcelona. Recently, Más Madrid claimed control of the preparation of the list for the capital and its leadership with its main representatives, and several sources from the organization then placed its leader in the first position.
Another novelty is that, for the first time, Más Madrid explicitly states that it accepts the possible integration of Podemos in the list for Madrid, in tune with its allies from IU and Movimiento Sumar. However, in light of its conditions and the requirement for zipper lists for parity, a starting position for Irene Montero would remain up in the air in the hypothetical case that the purple party agreed to enter Frente Amplio.
For now, Podemos is being cautious and avoids publicly commenting on these movements, although the leadership has reiterated that the holding of open primaries is its condition to explore unity with Frente Amplio. Nevertheless, internal sectors consider Más Madrid's proposal to be unserious, and former deputy Martina Velarde has gone so far as to label it as "a joke".
In any case, the 'purple' formation has also surprised with its approach to ERC and the possibility of having, if the pact comes to fruition, the media pull of Rufián in the campaign.
IU supports Colau and Sumar takes on the tandem with Delgado
The federal coordinator of IU, Antonio Maíllo, has published a message on social media in which he emphasizes that his organization has 40 years of history and that, given the current situation on the left, the moment demands "broad-mindedness, responsibility, and unity." It is worth remembering that on several occasions he has extended a hand to Podemos for it to integrate into Frente Amplio.
Subsequently, IU has reiterated its support for Colau to lead the candidacy, without mentioning Más Madrid's proposal regarding Emilio Delgado, and insists on demanding responsibility from the rest of the parties 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 calling for a reduction in the noise surrounding the negotiations for the candidacy.
Sources from the space indicate that Más Madrid's proposal generates some misunderstanding and consider that it may raise tensions with its allies.
The position of other territorial partners of the minority government partner is also not closed. Compromís, Chunta, and Més are working to articulate a united leftist list in their respective constituencies, but led by them and without integrating organically into Frente Amplio, so that the understanding would be limited to strictly electoral cooperation.