Podem maintains "conversations" with the Broad Front: "We will try all forms of collaboration"

BarcelonaWith three days left until the deadline for submitting coalitions for the Spanish elections, the political groups to the left of the PSOE are resisting giving up on unity. The different parties maintain the objective after a long weekend of crossed announcements, with the Rufián-Podem agreement, on one hand, and the selection of Ada Colau as the Broad Front's presidential candidate, on the other. The Podemos candidate, Irene Montero, one of the most belligerent voices in the tug-of-war between the different spaces of the Spanish left, has admitted that "talks" remain open with the Broad Front. "Yes, there are always talks," she said in statements to Cadena SER. And she added: "There are few days left, and the most important thing is that we take care of things and try to ensure they finally reach a successful conclusion."

Montero, who has avoided controversy with the Broad Front parties – Sumar, Comuns, United Left, and Más Madrid –, has invited these parties to join the "collaboration framework" closed with ERC. "Of course it is open to them [...]. We must continue working so that many more people are involved and so that the candidacy represents this majority of the left that wants rent prices and the cost of living to go down." "We will continue talking and trying all forms of collaboration," she said later on TVE.

The Podemos candidate made these statements after the coordinator of the Sumar Movement stated on Telecinco that they trust in unity despite Rufián's move. "The Broad Front is the unity of the left, and obviously all political organizations that wish to do so are invited to participate, including Podemos," she said. And she was even clearer: "We want Podemos to be part of it, because we understand that what the public expects is that we can revalidate a coalition government." The purple party, for now, considers it ruled out to integrate into the candidacy surrounding Sumar.

Rufián has also assured in the last few hours that he continues working to unite the left ahead of 29-N following the agreement with Irene Montero's party, which is why Podemos will not run in Catalonia and will be integrated into the republican list. An agreement that, despite the call to continue negotiating, has been heavily criticized by Barbero. The Sumar coordinator has accused the ERC candidate of a "change of opinion" regarding the left-wing alliances that she believes he has advocated for in recent months: "It does not seem very fair to the citizens that Rufián inspires, because he is a very charismatic, respected, and highly reputable leader," she said.

Friday, the deadline

The reproaches and crossed criticisms do not help in the negotiations, nor do the paths to reach unity proposed on both sides, nor, above all, the urgency with which we must work. It must be taken into account that on the 16th, this Friday, the deadline to present the coalitions for the elections ends, which shortens the margin for negotiations. On Wednesday and Thursday, the primaries to elect candidates that Podemos has decided to move forward with, despite the disagreement expressed by the Broad Front, will be held. These are primaries open to all citizens, and in which one can vote through the Primarias.info website.