Local supporters in Alicante of Esquerra Unida (EU) gathered to advocate for a broad front that would unite various left groups and movements. They stressed that Sumar is a coalition rather than a single political party and that the idea of a broader left collaboration should be pursued at a time of renewed political engagement. At a local event this week, delegates called for the formation of a space that can bring together different currents under a common banner. The upcoming Local Political Councils were highlighted as a milestone for presenting Sumar this Saturday, with a sense that the coalition would continue to evolve in the months ahead. The group emphasized that any decision within the coalition must be taken democratically and with clearly defined roles for each participating party.
The EU Alicante branch argued that introducing another party to the transformative left in the Valencia region would neither be appropriate nor necessary. Local coordinator Manolo Copé explained that the aim is to build a stable Sumar coalition that guarantees collective participation and democratic oversight. He noted that creating a new party named Sumar could sow confusion among citizens and militants alike, undermining the broader project.
Copé also raised questions about the coalition’s direction. He asked whether the goal is to create a large political bloc that allows broad participation from individuals and organizations or if the plan is to reproduce traditional party structures that limit involvement. He asserted that Sumar, when formed as a coalition, has the potential to consolidate into a wide front that operates with democratic coordination. In this framework, every party should feel comfortable, represented, and thus genuinely participatory. The group indicated that work on this issue would continue in the coming months.
According to the local coordinator, formal steps are required to ensure that all actors, including individuals and organizations, are clearly involved. He stressed that building a participatory, broad democratic front cannot be rushed or decided in haste. This is the message the group conveys, drawing on more than three decades of experience in creating spaces that integrate different organizations, parties, and people. The emphasis remains on ensuring open dialogue and sustained collaboration as the process unfolds.