ERC shuts door on 'diluting' party identity
On Monday 12 October 2026, ERC spokesperson Isaac Albert confirmed the party would not enter into any agreement for the 29 November general election that could dilute its identity. This position comes in response to calls from ERC's Madrid spokesperson, Gabriel Rufián, for broader progressive alliances in Catalonia, including talks with Comuns. Albert stressed that Esquerra Republicana will stand independently under its own name and programme. "The idea that responding to the far right means diluting ERC's brand is unacceptable. ERC presents itself in Catalonia as Esquerra Republicana," he said during a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Calàbria.
Collaboration with Podem, not coalition
Albert defended the existing collaboration agreement with Podem, under which Podem candidates will appear on ERC’s electoral lists in certain constituencies, including Barcelona and Tarragona. He clarified this is not a coalition but a strategic partnership aimed at building a 'wall of containment' against the far right in Spain’s upcoming parliamentary elections. The electoral programme will be exclusively that of ERC, and no joint branding will be used. According to Albert, the arrangement allows both parties to cooperate without merging identities or compromising ERC’s sovereignty.
"ERC is not a neutral or equidistant party. We take a clear stance,"
Albert added that the decision not to consult party members on the agreement was justified because it does not constitute a formal coalition.
No guarantee of parliamentary seats for Podem
When asked whether Podem candidates would secure seats in the Congress of Deputies, Albert stated that if ERC wins the same seven seats as in the previous election, there would be no room for Podem representatives under ERC’s lists. He acknowledged that securing parliamentary representation for Podem was not part of the negotiation terms. However, he highlighted joint campaign events in Madrid and Barcelona featuring both Rufián and Podem leader Irene Montero.
Internal dissent over lack of consultation
The decision not to hold a membership vote has drawn criticism from former ERC leaders, including ex-minister Dolors Bassa, who expressed difficulty understanding the move. Former MP Jordi Orobitg described the pact as a 'disguised coalition' and questioned the leadership’s commitment to internal democracy, asking why members were not consulted. Despite internal tensions, the party leadership maintains that the agreement strengthens its position without altering its core identity or strategic direction ahead of the 29-N vote.
Reported by racocatala.cat, ACN, onadigital.cat, elmon.cat, lavanguardia.com, laciutat.cat, J.C. Meneses Montserrat, lamanyana.cat, catalan.news, Arnau Lleonart i Fernàndez, publico.es, diariodia.es, democrata.es, vilaweb.cat, elimparcial.es, moncloa.com, Racó Català.
