Rufián and Montero begin the campaign shooting at Colau: “The front is us”

BarcelonaPodem leader Irene Montero and Republican Gabriel Rufián have kicked off the November 29th pre-election campaign by attacking the rest of the left-wing parties at the state level, and have positioned themselves as the only possible alternative to the Spanish right and far-right. Making an implicit reference to the progressive coalition led by Ada Colau, Front Ampli, the former Minister of Equality reproached them for "looking a lot like the PSOE" and "running in the elections with the same ballots," even though they only run together for the Senate. "These left-wing parties will not fix our problems," Montero said. "Whatever you call yourself, we are the front," added Rufián.

The Republican also wanted to distance himself from Front Ampli and claimed that the left-wing parties that truly "stood up" to the Socialists to prevent them from forming a government in Madrid with Ciudadanos were ERC, Bildu, and the BNG. However, towards the end of the speech, the Republican made it clear that he has better relations than Montero with the PSOE and the rest of the state's left-wing forces, and advocated for continuing to support a progressive Spanish executive. "We must govern and demand. [...] I do not agree that the PP and PSOE are the same," said Rufián. "We must subdue the PSOE from its left," he added before a full Plaça Major in Nou Barris, where more than a thousand people gathered.

Although Montero focused her criticisms on the Spanish right, Rufián preferred to attack Junts and Aliança Catalana, which is not running in the upcoming general elections. In an event where songs in Spanish predominated and almost no 'senyera' flag was seen – nor was there any party logo – the Republican claimed himself to be 'xarnego' and showed himself to be "proud" of his "broken Catalan." "I do not speak the perfect Catalan of Junts," he insisted.

In fact, the republican leader has also downplayed national sentiment. “What is the point of speaking perfect Catalan, removing the Spanish flag and putting up an estelada if you later vote with the PP and Vox?”, asked Rufián in a clear reference to the Junts candidate Míriam Nogueras. In the same vein, and maintaining a very harsh tone against Junts, the man from Santa Coloma de Gramenet has accused the Junts deputies of voting out of personal interest, since he claims that several representatives of the party have real estate businesses.

Rufián, however, has also let slip some reproach against his own party. Although there were several republican leaders present, such as Oriol Junqueras himself, the party's spokesperson in Congress ironically lamented that ERC is not in charge and criticized that there are republican colleagues who tell him that “this Spanish fascism is not a matter” for pro-independence Catalans. A mentality — Rufián remarked — that is “very irresponsible”. “Does anyone think that Catalonia remains immune to this fascist rage?”, he insisted.

Expropriations of housing

“In these elections there are three main issues: housing, housing and housing”, that is how Rufián began his pre-campaign rally. Even so, the two leaders did not put forward many proposals in this field and Montero limited herself to defending “the expropriations” of properties from private investment funds. “This system does not work, it is not enough to stop the right, we must be tougher”, added the leader of Podemos.

Montero also took the opportunity to respond to the statements of Alberto Núñez Feijóo in which he promises that he will put an end to the Ministry of Equality. “Your sexism kills”, she snapped at him. “They want a country of enslaved women, and that is why voting for the PP is voting for sexism and violence”, added the former Minister of Equality.