Gabriel Rufián and Irene Montero present themselves on November 29 as a bulwark against the right and far-right while pressuring the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) to stay left, according to coverage from ara.cat.
The Alliance and Campaign Strategy
“The useful vote of the left is us. And not metaphorically, but really,” Irene Montero stated during an appearance on TVE program La revuelta. The broadcast marked the first joint interview for Rufián and Montero since finalizing a collaboration pact for the upcoming general election. Under the agreement, Podemos will not run in Catalonia, while Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) incorporates candidates from Podemos into its own electoral lists. The two politicians kicked off their pre-campaign events with a rally in the Nou Barris district of Barcelona and scheduled a subsequent joint appearance in Madrid.
Montero Uses Props to Criticize Political Rivals
During their appearance on public television, Montero delivered props to presenter David Broncano, handing over a pair of knee pads intended for Santiago Abascal and Alberto Núñez Feijóo, whom she accused of kneeling before Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump. She also presented a dog leash referencing a dog Pedro Sánchez brought onto the same program the previous week, adding that it was meant to ensure the prime minister does not drift toward the right. Rufián addressed previous efforts to unite various factions of the Spanish left, acknowledging that negotiations had taken place despite ultimate division. “It was tried,” Rufián said, noting that all sides made an effort. Montero added that Podemos had previously proposed open primary elections.
Candidates Align on Housing but Differ on Immigration
While the candidates displayed broad alignment on housing policies and the defense of an independence referendum in Catalonia—with Rufián stating he would vote yes and Montero supporting a right to decide while favoring territorial unity within Spain—differences emerged on immigration. Rufián emphasized border control alongside the integration of newcomers, whereas Montero cautioned against the criminalization of migrants. The two also addressed past political tensions, with Rufián criticizing other leftist formations for remaining silent during attacks directed at Montero when she served as Minister of Equality. Rufián reaffirmed his party's previous vote against the labor reform, which previously fractured relations between ERC and Yolanda Díaz.
Electoral Positioning Against the Broad Front
The alliance between ERC and Podemos arrives as polling data suggests rising momentum for conservative and far-right parties. The coalition formation has nevertheless caused fractures within the broader left-wing space outside the PSOE. Podemos opted out of participating in the Broad Front coalition—which encompasses entities such as Izquierda Unida, Sumar, Comuns, and Más Madrid. During their opening campaign events, Rufián directed criticism toward Ada Colau’s political candidacy, asserting that his coalition constitutes the authentic front regardless of organizational naming conventions.
