The co-coordinator of Movimiento Sumar, Verónica Martínez Barbero, has reiterated her confidence that Podemos will end up joining the Frente Amplio, after the agreement reached by the purple formation with the spokesperson for ERC, Gabriel Rufián, and once the left-wing space outside the PSOE has designated the former mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau as a candidate in the elections on November 29.
In statements to Telecinco, Barbero has defended that “the Frente Amplio is the unity of the left and evidently all political organizations that wish to participate are invited, including Podemos,” an appeal with which she has insisted on the need for the confluence to bring together all possible actors from the progressive space.
Criticism of Gabriel Rufián's shift
The leader of Movimiento Sumar has reproached Gabriel Rufián for his “change of decision” by prioritizing ERC over the alliance between nationalist and progressive forces. In her opinion, the republican spokesperson “proposed” a “kind of alliances” in the sphere of the nationalist and state left, but finally opted for his current political party.
Verónica Martínez Barbero has indicated that she would have liked that step to have occurred earlier, and has added that “it does not seem very fair to the citizens whom Rufián excites, because he is a very charismatic leader, a very respected and very reputable politician.” Despite this, she has stressed that “the attitude” or the “change of decision” of the ERC leader “cannot be an obstacle for all left-wing parties” to run united in the general elections.
The focus on Podemos and the precedent of July 23
Regarding the eventual incorporation of Podemos into the Frente Amplio, Barbero has recalled that in the elections of July 23, 2023 there was no agreement “until the last moment,” so she hopes that the purple formation will end up joining the confluence that includes Movimiento Sumar, Comuns, Más Madrid and Izquierda Unida.
“We want Podemos to be in because we understand that what citizens expect is that we can revalidate a coalition government,” said the co-coordinator of Movimiento Sumar, who has called for “being up to the task” and maintaining an “extended hand” for the next electoral cycle.