Esquerra Republicana (ERC) and Podem have finalised an agreement to collaborate during the upcoming 29 November general election campaign, despite running on separate ballots, according to multiple sources including 3Cat and La Vanguardia. Under the arrangement, Podem will not field its own candidates in any of Catalonia’s four constituencies and will instead support ERC leader Gabriel Rufián as its preferred candidate in the region.
In return, ERC will campaign for Irene Montero, leader of Podem, in the rest of Spain. The collaboration includes joint campaign events, with Rufián and Montero appearing together publicly. The agreement stops short of a full electoral coalition but represents a strategic alignment between the two left-wing parties aimed at countering the rise of right-wing and far-right forces.
ERC described the move as 'indispensable' to 'halt the far right, defend the country and protect citizens’ rights'. The party stated that Podem recognises ERC as the legitimate leading force of the national left in Catalonia. 'Summing up efforts, with our own voice and shared objectives,' ERC said in a statement.
Colau confirmed as Front Ampli candidate
Meanwhile, the left-wing alliance Front Ampli has officially proposed Ada Colau as its candidate for the presidency in the 29-N elections, following a meeting of its constituent groups, Izquierda Unida (IU), Comuns, Más Madrid, and Movimiento Sumar. The decision, reported by El Constitucional and confirmed by Catalunya Press, keeps an open invitation for Podem to join the broader alliance despite its new agreement with ERC.
Front Ampli reiterated that 'no one is surplus to requirements' and called for unity among all progressive forces. Colau’s candidacy has been championed by key factions within the alliance, though her specific constituency, whether Barcelona or Madrid, has not yet been formally decided.
Rufián: 'There is time' for unity
I will try until the end for real cooperation between sovereignist and Spanish left forces.
Speaking after the announcement, Gabriel Rufián said he would continue pushing for unity across the left. In a social media post cited by La Mañana, he stated he would not contribute to 'anyone’s TV series' and would refrain from criticism 'no matter how much I might want to', but would keep working towards genuine collaboration. 'There is time,' he concluded.
Sílvia Martínez bids for Senate seat
On the regional front, Sílvia Martínez has announced her intention to run for the Senate representing Lleida, following the withdrawal of current senator Sara Bailac. Martínez, a jurist and former territorial director of Economy and Finance in Lleida, Pirineu and Aran, is a prominent figure in the ERC federation. She joins Omar Noumri as a second confirmed ERC Senate candidate for the region. Her campaign emphasises 'rigour' and 'proximity' in representing the area.
Reported by lamanyana.cat, 3cat.cat, elconstitucional.es, lavanguardia.com, catalunyapress.cat, Ministerio del Interior, abc.es, elespanol.com, eldiario.es, elmundo.es, Newsroom Infobae, EFE, resultados-elecciones.rtve.es.
