Colau is profiled as a candidate for the Spanish elections

Barcelona/MadridA decisive move for Ada Colau to end up leading the candidacy for the Spanish elections of the left-wing coalition Broad Front. Més Madrid proposes that the former mayor of Barcelona be the candidate for the presidency of the Spanish government and head the list in Barcelona for the elections on November 29th, according to sources from the party itself. However, although this bet is key to paving the way for Colau at the head of the Broad Front, it is not the definitive step. Both sources from Sumar and United Left –two key actors in this new left-wing coalition– do not currently ratify Més Madrid's approach, at least publicly. They avoid making assessments of the announcement by the progressive Madrid-based party and limit themselves to recalling that they "are not in favor of fostering negotiation and debate" through the media.

Be that as it may, Més Madrid claims Colau as a "proposal" that "responds to the principles of territoriality, generosity, and confederal functioning". "We defend that a true Broad Front must be built from respect for the roots and autonomy of each force in its territory", the same party adds in a statement. In fact, the party argues that "ceding" the candidacy is a gesture for "the confederal bet of the territories that make up the country", and advocates for the leader of the party herself, Mónica García (Minister of Health), to go as number one on the Madrid list.

Colau's space, Comuns, also avoids commenting on the proposal from the progressive Madrid-based party and insists that the "negotiation will not be closed until there is a global agreement". "We will not respond to information that is being made public about the negotiations", they point out from the party. Regarding Més per Mallorca, which keeps the negotiation open as to whether they will be part of the coalition or not, it assures that it does not "affect" it whether the number one is one person or another. A voice from the party consulted by ARA does celebrate that the candidate can run in Barcelona and not in Madrid as an "example of confederalism".

Compromís reiterates that their talks are taking place only within the framework of the Valencian Country with the regional leaders of the alternative left and not with the leadership in Madrid for a state candidacy. Precisely this morning, deputy Alberto Ibáñez publicly thanked the leadership of Esquerra Unida and Podemos for having given "autonomy" to their Valencian federations to negotiate a coalition in the three provinces. Likewise, he made it clear that their commitment is to have a ballot with the name Compromís –susceptible to adding a surname, as happened on July 23rd with Sumar– and has called for a "single" list of the alternative left to the PSOE in the "maximum number of constituencies possible". Mind you, he avoided commenting on who should lead the Broad Front at a state level: "It will not be me who makes noise about how they have to do it in Madrid or Barcelona".

The relationship with Montero

Various sources from the environment of the left of the PSOE also see Colau as a person who, even, can bring positions closer between Sumar, United Left and Más Madrid with Podemos, which has already announced a candidacy led by the MEP Montero. The former spokesperson for the PAH and the former Minister of Equality have a bond of cordiality and respect, which contrasts with the bad relationship that Montero maintains with a good part of the leaders who make up the Broad Front coalition. For the moment, however, sources from Podemos consulted by ARA refer to the proposal that they have been putting on the table for days to hold open primaries. Montero's offer is to hold them next week, on October 14 and 15.

Just this afternoon, Antonio Maíllo, federal coordinator of United Left, has defended that the Broad Front must have "room" for all the "transformative left", as well as "those who want to make their contribution on an individual basis". And he has once again extended his hand to Podemos. "We offer this space to any political organization that wants to generate a historical bloc that determines the future of Spain", noted Maíllo.

Colau's circle points in this same direction and the former mayor of Barcelona has been showing herself in favor of reaching an understanding with as many formations as possible, such as Podemos, for days. "We are working to make the broadest possible agreement that includes all left-wing political forces", they add from Comuns. And, beyond the purple party and Más Madrid, Colau is also in favor of counting on Gabriel Rufián for the Broad Front, who has said that he is in a moment of "reflection" and has not yet confirmed under which umbrella he intends to run in the Spanish elections.