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 again defending a common front of the left and offering to lead it. A proposal that the ERC leadership rejects because it does not see it as viable. However, it maintains 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 up against. What does this translate to? The ERC spokesperson in Madrid wants to surround himself with a team and a list he trusts, 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 – it should do so 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 finally orders the candidacy. In other words, to draw up electoral lists, the procedures are regulated, although the leadership can also do more and less when it comes to placing independent candidates or reordering the top positions. From Rufián's circle, they argue that the spokesperson should surround himself with a list with which he "feels comfortable" because it is with whom he will have to work in Congress. That is, 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 agoRufián appeared as the best-rated candidate by CatalansThere are voices within the leadership that 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 fit," points out a consulted source. There are also party sources who complain that the leadership is not calling Rufián to account. Among some more territorial cadres, on the other hand, the republican spokesperson's proposal is seen as distant. "The orbital causes more controversy than Rufián," points out a 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.

More events?

In fact, the Republican leadership is aware of the media power its spokesperson in Madrid has and which reaches audiences that the party alone would not reach. The growth of ERC indicated by the polls also draws, in part, from Rufián's projection. In the ARA poll, for example, which was published a few weeks ago, Rufián appeared as the best-rated candidate by 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 whether 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 a 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 national left-wing formations view the proposal favorably – they are preparing a confluence in the same direction for the next national elections – but they are asking for specifics.