Ten days have passed since the plan to present a joint agreement was announced. Podem and Esquerra Unida confirmed on Wednesday that they will run together in the regional elections scheduled for May 28, under a brand to be known as United Podem-United Esquerra, the same arrangement that existed four years ago. In municipal races, the parties will proceed with exceptions that allow for civic autonomy. While the major cities appear in the plan, both formations are finalizing the end points of the candidate list.
Héctor Illueca, who spoke at a meeting that began a day earlier and has generated high expectations in recent months due to the momentum in talks, together with Rosa Perez Garijo representing Podemos and Esquerra Unida yesterday announced that they had reached a deal to contest the elections jointly, a pact that was finally approved today.
The regional list positions include Illueca as the candidate for Generalitat, with Garijo second on the Valencia slate and Carmen Collado third. In Alicante, Maria Teresa Perez leads with Stephanie Blanes second and Alejandro Aguilar third. In Castellón, Marisa Saavedra would be a representative in Congress, followed by Irene Gomez at the top of the slate and Silvia Peris third. Alliances in major cities such as Valencia, Alicante, Castellón, and Elche are still being completed. Pilar Lima notes that the aim is to participate on equal terms, united.
This was announced at a press conference by Héctor Illueca, Rosa Pérez Garijo, Estefanía Blanes, and Pilar Lima. In the Valencian Community, fifty municipalities are witnessing a merger between Esquerra Unida and Podemos. Agreements have been reached with other groups in about thirty municipalities, and negotiations remain open in numerous places.
Despite the turbulence surrounding the Valencian left, Sumar, Podemos, and the rise of EU will reunite as they did in 2019. The risk of disrupting the Botànic coalition still exists, even though each party would benefit from the alignment.
Blame Compromise
By Monday, the first joint reaction from both sides was already visible. Rosa Perez Garijo expressed the sentiment of the purple factions. A shared foe often binds two parties, so even in a united front, the opponent on the left remains Compromís.
Thus, despite a stronger affinity with Valencian voters in the United States, the alliance leader and Inclusion minister criticized Compromís. The unity of the Valencian left appeared to depend less on a broad convergence beyond the PSPV and more on the internal dynamics of the coalition, underlining the delicate balance these negotiations must maintain.