Podemos erases itself from the unitary photo of the left in Andalusia

Barcelona"We have taken a step forward by obeying the popular mandate. I appreciate the effort of the seven organizations that have made it possible for us to present the best candidacy: For Andalusia". Antonio Maíllo, the candidate for the left-wing coalition led by Esquerra Unida and Sumar, recalled that Podemos is one of these seven formations that next May 17 will try to spring a surprise in the Andalusian Parliament elections. But at Sunday's rally in Seville, there was no trace of Podemos. The purples, who have reluctantly accepted the Andalusian coalition after two resounding electoral defeats (in Castilla y León and Aragón), do not want to get involved in anything that is not strictly essential. And, despite the evident electoral climate in Andalusia, Sunday saw the presentation of the state pact, which also brings together Comuns and Más Madrid.

Without Podemos, Maíllo was indeed accompanied by the rest of the parties that support him. Three ministers (Ernest Urtasun, Mónica García, and Pablo Bustinduy) acted as opening acts with a common mantra: to denounce the "cuts" by the current president of the Junta de Andalucía, José Manuel Moreno Bonilla, about whom they also denounce that he will pursue the same policies as Vox regardless of whether he needs the far-right to govern.

The Andalusian coalition is the first experience of unity since Yolanda Díaz renounced leading the Sumar project and her party signed a continuity pact with Comuns, Más Madrid, and Esquerra Unida. Podemos joined reluctantly and sold the pact as an exercise in "responsibility" to maximize the left's electoral results. In fact, Ione Belarra's leadership assumes that they will probably not achieve a single regional deputy. Four years ago, when the PP achieved an absolute majority, the left beyond the PSOE (with Podemos within) only obtained five seats, in addition to the two from Endavant Andalusia, the party supported by Teresa Rodríguez. Polls do not predict a large increase for Per Andalusia now, although this Sunday Maíllo has set himself the challenge of "doubling the results".

The negotiations to go beyond a pact for Andalusia are, for the moment, deadlocked. In fact, Podem is flirting with the idea of a broader unity like the one proposed by Gabriel Rufián, in which, they say, ERC would be the benchmark in Catalonia and Podem would be the benchmark at the state level. The Republican leadership has already rejected this path and the Sumar partners do not consider a scenario in which they would have to dilute themselves within Podem.