The alternative left observes with caution the possibility that the president of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, opts to call for general elections after the rejection in Congress of the decrees on housing. Various sources from this space consider this scenario plausible, although they show mixed opinions on whether an immediate date with the polls would be the best option.
Part of the leaders situated to the left of the PSOE judge it negative to go to vote this same year and emphasize that the formations of state scope still carry numerous unknowns, such as the designation of the candidate from the Sumar parties or whether there will finally be a convergence with Podemos.
In contrast, other sectors defend that an electoral advance would allow going on the offensive, capitalizing on the current social mobilization in defense of the right to housing, driven by the eviction of Maricarmen, and attacking the "antisocial" attitude of PP and Vox.
At the same time, there are voices that take for granted that the hypothesis of early elections is already part of the public debate and maintain that the president only has to choose the right moment to dissolve the Cortes Generales.
For now, the main left-wing formations have been cautious about the possibility of an electoral advance and, although no one confirms it, that outcome is not openly ruled out either.
Sumar prepares a summit to analyze the scenario
The Sumar parties have called for a meeting this Sunday in which they will examine the political situation and have reiterated that they feel prepared for any outcome, including electoral. The meeting will bring together all the forces integrated into the parliamentary group of Congress and its content will also depend on how the social mobilization planned for Saturday evolves.
Although internal sources from the minority partner emphasize that no candidacy or electoral brand is expected to be announced, limiting the summit to an assessment of the situation generated after the rejection of the housing decrees, the federal coordinator of IU, Antonio Maíllo, has expressly requested to accelerate the selection of the candidate and the name of the ballot, which must aim to configure a very "extensive" broad front.
Meanwhile, leaders such as ministers Yolanda Díaz and Pablo Bustinduy have limited themselves to reminding that the decision on the electoral advance corresponds exclusively to Sánchez and that the left will be up to the task.
Other sources from the minority partner maintain that the legislature is exhausted, considering that Junts has aligned itself stably with PP and Vox, and they advocate for activating the electoral machinery as soon as possible, taking advantage of the fact that their bases are mobilized by the protests in defense of housing. Furthermore, they point out that within the PSOE there is a significant current that demands immediate elections.
Uncertainties in the electoral offer and reluctance towards the advance
However, other sectors of this space disagree and warn that an early call would be detrimental as it would catch them disorganized.
A prominent leader from the minority wing of the Executive admits that doubts about the Sumar candidacy still persist, such as the definitive number of parties that will integrate into the coalition and, above all, who will be the head of the list. He also expresses reservations about whether the current social protest in the streets will automatically translate into electoral support for the left.
Another member of the plurinational group warns that an electoral advance would have a strong impact and that key elements are still missing to recompose a unitary candidacy. At the same time, another relevant voice acknowledges that they must prepare for a possible date with the polls before the year ends, but considers that the immediate priority is for the right to assume the political cost of having overturned the anti-eviction measures and the rental extension.
Likewise, other sources maintain that Sánchez will ultimately choose not to activate the advance and will try to double down on his housing policy with new measures, even without the support of Junts, with the aim of leaving PP and Vox in a blurred position before public opinion.
In the realm of the sovereignist left, it is warned that it would be irresponsible to anticipate elections when, to the left of the PSOE, there is no clear electoral leadership and state forces are going through a moment of weakness.
The spokesperson for Esquerra Republicana (ERC) in Congress, Gabriel Rufián, has urged the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, to act with "a cool head" and to keep in mind that "they have nothing to their left to be able to add" if he decides to dissolve the Cortes and advance the general elections.
Podemos defends that the priority is solutions, not ballots
The Secretary General of Podemos, Ione Belarra, maintains that the citizenry "does not want elections, but solutions" and has reminded Pedro Sánchez that he still has the Official State Gazette (BOE) to continue legislating.
Sources from the purple formation interpret that this parliamentary defeat is the "ideal hook" that Sánchez usually uses for maneuvers like an electoral advance, but they consider that this would be the worst moment and a mistake, given that the priority must be to maintain the prominence of social mobilization.
Regarding the possibility of articulating a united front of the alternative left, they emphasize that they have already made their proposal for holding open primaries public to measure the weight of each party in the electoral lists. They insist that it is the other organizations that have not responded to this offer and that now "the ball is in their court."