Rufián's conditions to continue at ERC

Barcelona"I will not run again for ERC if certain conditions are not met," stated Gabriel Rufián at a conference in Madrid a few days ago. The Republican spokesperson in Congress said this after once again defending a common left-wing front and offering himself to lead it. A proposal that the ERC leadership rejects because they do not see it as viable. However, they maintain that Rufián continues to be their choice to lead the list in general elections. The Republican spokesperson, however, assures that to repeat as a candidate, he wants two basic conditions to be met. Which ones? He did not specify them publicly at that conference, but limited himself to talking about the "parliamentary group" and making it clear what they are facing. What does this translate to? The ERC spokesperson in Madrid wants to surround himself with a trusted team and list, but also wants to have more influence on decisions that depend on Madrid. Two conditions that make the party uncomfortable.

To begin with, the leadership recalls that electoral lists are drawn up by ERC bodies and are based on regulations approved by the party in a national council – which it should do at the meeting on June 6th. It is the territorial assemblies that vote for the candidates in each constituency, and then it is the leadership that ultimately orders the candidacy. In other words, to draw up electoral lists, procedures are regulated, although the leadership can also do more or less when it comes to placing independent candidates or reordering the top positions. Rufián's circle argues that the spokesperson should be surrounded by a list with which he "feels comfortable" because it is with whom he will have to work in Congress. In other words, a list different from the current one, where he maintains tensions with some of the deputies.

When defining the strategy in Madrid, can Rufián have more influence as he requests? Oriol Junqueras's leadership points out that the political line is set by the party's leadership "of which he is already a part".

The left-wing front

The relationship between Rufián and the Republican leadership is not going through its best moment. However, sources consulted say that dialogue between the leadership and Rufián is maintained. The proposal for a left-wing front that "the Republican leader launched months ago" has not only shaken the national political board, but also the Republican ranks. Rufián is convinced that his proposal is a winning one and that it brings together what the left-wing electorate is asking for. That is why, his inner circle points out, he continues to defend it publicly. However, some party members see it as a challenge to the party, while others understand that it is Gabriel Rufián's way of doing things.

There are voices within the leadership who admit that entering into confrontation with him could be counterproductive due to the notoriety of the Republican spokesperson, but they also understand that his attitude generates unease within the party. "We have to find a place for him," says a consulted source. There are also party sources who complain that the leadership does not call Rufián to account. Among some more territorial party members, on the other hand, the Republican spokesperson's proposal is seen as distant. "The orbital [railway] generates more controversy than Rufián," says one voice, referring to the fourth railway belt that ERC agreed with the Government in exchange for approving the 2026 budgets. However, the unease has been evident for some time within ERC's parliamentary group in Madrid. The leadership, however, prescribes patience to try not to escalate the conflict.

Proof of this unease has been the message on X published by deputy Jordi Salvador after ARA published this information. "ERC is not a personal platform or a space for ultimatums," he wrote, adding: "Patience has its limits".

More events?

In fact, the Republican leadership is aware of the media strength of their spokesperson in Madrid and that it reaches audiences the party alone would not reach. ERC's growth, as indicated by the polls, also partly stems from Rufián's projection. In the ARA poll, for example, published a few weeks ago, Rufián appeared as the best-rated candidate among Catalans. It is no less true, however, that without Esquerra, Rufián does not have the platform to materialize his left-wing front. That is to say, for now, both sides still need each other. The unknown is how this relationship will evolve and if the rope will continue to be tightened.

Rufián plans to hold more events with other left-wing leaders, as he himself announced from Barcelona, where he shared the stage with the national leader of Podemos, Irene Montero. There, he said that one of his goals was to hold an event in Valencia, alongside the candidate for mayor of the capital of the Valencian Country, Mònica Oltra. For now, no details have been made public yet. The Republican leader is moving forward with his proposal, even though no sovereignist left-wing party has shown itself receptive to it so far, not even EH Bildu, with whom they share a strategic line in Madrid and with whom they are running together in the European elections (alongside, also, the BNG). Only Podemos has tried to get closer in a clearer way, because the rest of the state left-wing formations view the proposal favorably – they are preparing a convergence in the same direction for the next state elections – but they are asking for specifics.