March 29. 2024. 1:10

The Daily

Read the World Today

Left-wing Unidas Podemos wants to ‘make peace’ with progressive group Sumar


Spain’s left-wing junior coalition member wants to agree with Sumar – the new progressive group that aspires to unite the country’s left and win general elections in December – as soon as possible, Unidas Podemos (UP) Secretary General Ione Belarra said on Tuesday.

In Belarra’s view, an “agreement of unity” with Sumar must be reached “as soon as possible” to revive the current coalition government with the socialist party (PSOE/S&D), EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.

“I think it is still possible”, Belarra said in an interview that was aired on Tuesday by state-owned Radio Nacional de España (RNE), in which she ruled out the Podemos’ ministers leaving the cabinet of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (PSOE), in case no consensus is reached with Labour Minister and Sumar candidate, Yolanda Díaz.

Belarra (UP), who is also Spain’s Social Rights Minister, expressed concerns that Díaz, in her view, “is not clearly committed” to reaching unity with UP and does not consider it a failure to run in the general election as two separated progressive forces, dividing the left camp.

No space for personal ‘egos’ in the left camp

“Personal” projects do not respond well to citizens’ demands, because they “disconnect” from the grassroots, Belarra stated, referring to Díaz’s political ambitions.

Díaz’s attitude responds to the fact that PSOE does not want an “uncomfortable” partner such as Unidas Podemos on its left and that there are socialist-friendly media who tell her that “she can go it alone, that she doesn’t need Podemos,” said Belarra.

Spain will hold municipal and regional elections on 28 May, and the country is scheduled to hold general elections in December, right at the end of its presidency of the EU Council, which begins in July.

The latest polls point to a victory for the socialist party, which currently governs in coalition with Unidas Podemos (GUE-NGL).

However, other polls predict a possible alliance government between the centre-right Popular Party (PP/EPP) and the far-right Vox party (ECR), which rule together in the Castilla and León region.

The presentation of Díaz’s candidacy for prime minister on Sunday was preceded by several weeks of controversy, with Ione Belarra pressing her to guarantee the left-wing formation of a robust representation in Sumar, which aims to be a political alternative to centre-left PSOE.

(Fernando Heller | EuroEFE.EURACTIV.es)