After an initial belief that Compromís might be breaking apart last week, Podemos and Esquerra Unida, two major forces on the left, are continuing their negotiations in Alicante ahead of the 28 May elections. The talks among the progressive groups in Alicante and their ties to the PSPV-PSOE bloc remain open, with regional implications and a ripple effect in Botany as well. The Valencian Government could see a shift if purple lines are drawn alongside the EU, shaping alliances to come.
starting points
The pattern remains consistent: Esquerra Unida accuses Podemos of not being generous enough and of withholding starting positions on their candidate lists. From the United States perspective, all options are still on the table, ranging from keeping the tripartite agreement alive to pursuing a broader, loyal alliance. That second scenario carries significant risk, as it could jeopardize the Podemos-EU agreement at the regional level.
In Alicante, Compromís was the first to pull back from a possible intersection. After their leaders were praised at the end of last week, Valencians felt the talks had collapsed and moved to present themselves, intent on preserving the top two slots for Rafa Mas (Venture) and Sara Llobell (Més). They branded the campaign as ViscAlacant, signaling a readiness to keep momentum without being worn down by the recent primary process. There was also openness to consider independents as part of the next chapter.
This Monday, Podemos signaled that there would be no pause in the process. The coalition with commitment remained firm, and Morlar emphasized a plan to broaden the space for a transforming left. The aim is to assemble a candidacy that brings together progressive, environmentalist, and feminist factions. Throughout the week, discussions for 28M intensified with Esquerra Republica, Alianza Verde, and especially Esquerra Unida, as the dialogue moved toward a possible alignment even if it required new terms.
Reply
The Podemos Coordinating Council issued a statement that is seen as a reply to Compromís, which had announced the end of its negotiations and begun independent work on its own campaign. Valencians noted that polls had shown the city’s capital delivering two council seats, fostering a stance against concessions to Podemos and the EU, where a third and fourth spot on the list had been abandoned. The purple coalition faced sharp criticism from the Valencian faction centered in Alicante, with some describing the Podemos proposals as insufficiently serious. The Alicante group claims it has carried more than 7,000 votes in municipal elections since the end of the last century, underscoring its continued relevance to local governance and its claim to influence decision-making positions, including opening a leading spot on the list when appropriate.
There is strong skepticism toward the purple faction led by regional councilor Rosa Pérez Garijo. In Alicante, they contend that Podemos proposals fall short and point to a history of leadership turnover around key figures such as Xavier López and Vanessa Romero, who joined the Alicante Corporation during a fast-moving mandate. A bilateral meeting this week is viewed as crucial for clarifying the left’s broader trajectory in the region. Still, there is a sense in Alicante that an agreement with Compromís may be more viable, though it has encountered its own bumps along the road.
Santa Pola stands as a counterexample where the three formations managed a joint approach. They announced the top spots on their list with a clear allocation: Anna Antón and Esteve Ruiz from Compromís occupy the first two positions, while Alba Quesada (AB) and Mercedes Landa (Podemos) fill the third and fourth places. This cooperative stance in Santa Pola demonstrates that cross-party collaboration can still prevail where it matters most to local voters, even if it falters in larger municipalities like Alicante.
As the negotiations unfold, the broader question remains: who can credibly unite the progressive forces in this region to deliver a coherent platform and stable governance after 28 May? The dynamics in Alicante, as well as in Santa Pola, show a landscape where local alliances can diverge from regional patterns, and where voters will decide which combination of parties best represents their interests and their values. The coming days are likely to bring sharper statements, more meetings, and perhaps a few surprising moves as the left tries to consolidate its position before election day.