The Popular Party (PP) will not oppose a five-way debate on Atresmedia that includes the candidates of Broad Front and Podemos if negotiations between these left-wing formations finally stall and they fail to run on a single ticket in the general elections on November 29, according to sources from the popular party's campaign committee told Europa Press.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo's party already accepted last week to participate in three electoral debates before the general elections: a face-to-face between the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the leader of the PP, scheduled for November 16 on Mediaset; a debate with the spokespersons of the political groups with parliamentary representation, on November 23 on RTVE; and a debate on Atresmedia between the candidates of the main parties, which would be held on Thursday, November 26.
The formula Génova defends for November 26
Specifically, the popular party already indicated last week that this last debate, three days before the votes, would be between PP, PSOE, Vox and whoever runs on behalf of the far-left in the elections and inherits the proposals of Podemos and United Left (IU) in 2015, Unidos Podemos in 2016, Unidas Podemos in 2019 and Sumar in 2023.
For now, and pending confirmation of whether a unitary list to the left of the PSOE will ultimately exist, PP sources have told Europa Press that they would be open to the Atresmedia debate on November 26 also including the Podemos candidate, Irene Montero.
Broad Front opens the door to a unity candidacy
On Monday, the parties of Broad Front agreed to present former mayor Ada Colau as their candidate for President of the Government, who this morning opened the door to resigning from that position if it facilitates an agreement with Podemos for a unity candidacy.
Ada Colau herself stated in a video released this Tuesday that "there is still time" and extended a hand to ERC and Podemos to sit down and negotiate with the aim of achieving a single left-wing candidacy to the left of the PSOE.
Podemos maintains Irene Montero as electoral reference
For its part, Podemos has reached a collaboration agreement with ERC in Catalonia and claims former Minister of Equality, Irene Montero, as its candidate and electoral reference for the left. This Tuesday, the MEP of the purple formation avoided commenting on the "open door" of Broad Front to join the confluence with Movimiento Sumar, Comuns, Más Madrid and United Left.
When asked about that possibility, Montero chose not to clarify her position and maintained: "I prefer my silence because I believe it is what can best contribute to things going well."
Friday, deadline to register coalitions
The electoral landscape of the alternative left will be clarified this Friday, the last day set on the calendar to register coalitions for the general elections on November 29, a day that will mark whether the formations run separately or if they manage to close a unity candidacy before the deadline expires.
