Who could relieve Yolanda Díaz?

MadridYolanda Díaz has renounced leading the space to the left of the PSOE without a clear successor. After the internal tensions generated by Sumar's personalism in 2023, the strategy for the elections scheduled for 2027 has been turned upside down. The priority is now alliances between parties, and ultimately, the name of the list leader will emerge. For now, Comuns, Més Madrid, Esquerra Unida, and Moviment Sumar have announced they will run in a coalition –without yet specifying how and with whom– with the aim of attracting other formations such as Podem, Compromís, Chunta Aragonesista, or Més per Mallorca. Díaz's step asideclears the way for new leaderships to emerge in a project presented as more of a collective effort. Who could replace her?

Sources consulted by ARA, from the four parties that have already pledged to form a new coalition, argue that the time has not yet come to answer this question. "There is time" or "it's for later" is what they maintain without specifying when they will clarify one of the questions raised by the announcement this Wednesday by the second deputy prime minister of the Spanish government. One of these voices dismisses the possibility of resolving the leadership debate before the summer and places it from September onwards, once the regional elections in Castilla y León and Andalusia have passed. Another emphasizes that it would make no sense to announce a name before all the actors have joined the candidacy, as everyone must have their say. "It will be defined in the final stretch," they emphasize.

The same source also warns that starting to throw out names too early can create pressure that ends up working against them. This is the case of Pablo Bustinduy, Minister of Social Rights, who the day after Díaz publicly ruled herself out was hounded by microphones in Congress with the question of whether he would be the one to replace her. Although he is a profile that is liked internally –one source describes him as "the natural leader of the space"–, he has ruled himself out. Sources close to him categorically reject the option of him taking over from Díaz due to the personal cost of assuming such a role. Nor is he a profile that Podem would look favorably upon, they add, and the aspiration is to attract the 'lilac' party, which, for its part, has already promoted the candidacy of former Minister of Equality Irene Montero –currently outside this coalition.

Besides Bustinduy, another name that has emerged in the initial speculation is that of former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau. "She is an essential asset who will accompany this entire process," they respond from Comuns, who also reject moving ahead too quickly –"things when they are due and in stages"–, although they do not rule her out either. Besides Colau, Comuns has other visible figures in key positions within the coalition, such as the deputy spokesperson in Congress, Aina Vidal, or the Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, although he has already ruled himself out –he will be "alongside" whoever the candidate is, he said this Friday on La Sexta.

Territorial focus

In the Council of Ministers, there are also profiles from other parties in the coalition with public projection, such as the Minister of Health, Mónica García, leader of Més Madrid. However, the electoral race for the general elections is incompatible with the one in Madrid –the regional elections will also be in 2027– and sources from Més Madrid emphasize that their priority is Madrid and ousting the Popular Party president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso. If García runs as a candidate to preside over the Community –a scenario not confirmed, but foreseeable–, she could not lead a state-level candidacy.

Those who currently also have their focus on the territory are the leader of Esquerra Unida (IU), Antonio Maíllo, who is the candidate for this political space in the Andalusian elections in June. Sources from IU also do not want to put forward any names at the moment, although the electoral calendar would not be an impediment for Maíllo. IU also has another public profile in the Council of Ministers, such as the Minister of Youth and Children, Sira Rego. In Moviment Sumar, with Díaz's step aside, the person who formally leads the party is the coordinator, Lara Hernández, but neither her name nor any other is formally on the table.