Rufián, in the act next to Montero: "I refuse to tell Spanish leftists 'You'll sort yourselves out'"

BarcelonaIn Barcelona, from the Auditorium of the Ciutadella Campus of the Pompeu Fabra University, Gabriel Rufián has once again defended the left-wing front that he believes should materialize for the upcoming general elections. And he has done so alongside Irene Montero, the number two of Podemos, who has taken up his proposal. Rufián's idea is for this broad and unitary front to be achieved through an alliance between state left-wing forces and also sovereignist forces. "The problem is not us sovereignist left-wingers, we will do well. The problem is the left-wingers to the left of the PSOE. I refuse to abandon them. We cannot say 'You'll sort yourselves out'," he argued. How would this alliance be concretized? Rufián argued at an event in Madrid — alongside the spokesperson for Más Madrid, Emilio Delgado — that in each province, the left-wing formation with the most traction should run. "Podemos can help these confluences. And ERC too in Catalonia," added the republican spokesperson this Thursday.

Montero, in this regard, has once again advocated for "teaming up" with Rufián to materialize this left-wing alliance. "It may get many votes, but if not, it is still worthwhile," she added. The purple leader has defended a confluence of the left-wing parties to put "the project of a better society at the center".

Rufián's proposal does not have the endorsement of the ERC leadership and, in fact, the party leader, Oriol Junqueras, is not present at Thursday's event, although the republicans have sent a small representation: the deputy secretary-general, Oriol López; the deputy secretary for the world of work, economy, citizenship and open party, Laura Pelay, and also the senator Laura Castel. Additionally, his mentor and the main proponent of the proposal, Joan Tardà, was also there. Representing the Comuns was the candidate for mayor of Barcelona, Gerardo Pisarello, and the former spokesperson and now councilor in Sabadell, Joan Mena. Representing Podemos was the secretary-general in the State, Ione Belarra, and the general coordinator in Catalonia, María Pozuelo.

"155 silver coins"

At Pompeu Fabra, Gabriel Rufián was received with some posters hung by the JNC reminding him of the tweet made by the same republican spokesperson in 2017: "155 pieces of silver". On the other hand, there were also posters accusing Rufián of not defending Catalan: "Rufián, he who does not defend Catalan, does not defend Catalonia".