ERC activates the electoral process for the general elections with the unknown of Rufián hovering over the lists for Congress

ERC has launched its internal machinery to face future general elections with the approval of the regulation that will govern the composition of the candidacies. Although this is a usual procedure, the current uncertainty about the legislature and the discrepancies between Gabriel Rufián and the party leadership have multiplied interest in the process.

The Consell Nacional that the republicans are holding in Banyoles will give the green light to the rules that will mark the election of the head of the list and the preparation of the candidacies. The regulation will foreseeably maintain the scheme of previous calls, with a prominent role for the territorial federations and a capacity for intervention by the leadership in part of the list.

The main unknown remains the future of Gabriel Rufián. The ERC spokesperson in Congress has starred in several disagreements in recent months with the party leadership over his commitment to a broad left-wing front with Sumar and Podemos, a strategy not shared by the leadership headed by Oriol Junqueras.

Doubts increased after Rufián himself left his continuity as a candidate up in the air by stating that he would not repeat as head of the list if certain conditions were not met. Despite this, both Junqueras and the general secretary, Elisenda Alamany, have publicly reiterated their desire for him to continue leading the republican representation in Madrid.

The differences have also caused discomfort within the parliamentary group. Deputy Jordi Salvador publicly asked Rufián to show more respect for the militancy and the collective work of the party, evidencing an internal tension unusual among republicans.

Although ERC continues to bet on exhausting the legislature to push through key agreements such as the singular financing of Catalonia, the party wants to avoid being caught by surprise again by an eventual early election, as happened in 2023. For this reason, the leadership has decided to accelerate electoral preparations and have the internal structure ready for any political scenario.