The loyalty of the left forces to the Sumar project has turned into a time-sensitive effort. After the 28M election results, support for the slogan We Can extended into municipal and autonomous levels. Compromís, while not yielding ground, acknowledges that noise and internal tensions hinder urgent and effective mobilization.
Across the left, Botànic gathered around 200,000 votes on the way, and since Tuesday the coalition has engaged in open negotiations with Sumar after reaffirming its commitment to Yolanda Díaz’s platform, with whom collaboration has already occurred. In practice, the acting mayor of Valencia, Joan Ribó, represented the most visible face of the official rollout of the project.
The strategic, if sharp, critique rose quickly from land, sea and air in less than a day. If the metaphor holds any weight, the sea angle points to Pablo Iglesias, a former Podemos leader and co-founder, who accused Valencianistas of vetoing nominations. He denied this through his Compromís co-spokesperson Agueda Mico.
For Sumar, Podemos’ critique of Compromís marks the opening phase of negotiations
Karadan spoke from Bloc i País, a smaller party aligned with the bloc, calling for consultation with its militants. The signature drive appears unlikely to drag on long, given the tight timetable and the fact that general elections loom at year’s end, while cooperation has already begun.
Meanwhile, the early moves are being discussed ahead of the open primaries. Compromís aims to minimize heated rhetoric and concentrate on steering Sumar into leadership of the Valencian Community. The party acknowledges early moves that build momentum and position the group at the forefront, especially since current representation is limited. Presently Compromís has a single deputy in Congress, with United Left of Podem-Valencia registering four in the autonomous region. In other words, the top leadership seat is highly coveted, especially when considering that the last general elections showed a strong need for broader support.
The list of potential candidates is growing clear, given that the meeting must be registered before the Friday deadline for coalition submissions. After that, candidates must file with the Election Board between June 14 and 19, allowing just over two weeks for internal naming processes.
Sumar Movement: Yolanda Díaz formalizes her party for the 23J general election
The organization announced that open primaries will follow the approval by Compromís bodies, notably the Initiative Desk and the GreensEquo Desk, of the agreement with Sumar and the positions on offer. This development comes as the Partido Popular’s momentum benefited from Ciudadanos’ absence.
Early candidates surfaced in Valencia and Alicante with names like Natxo Bellido and Mireia Mullah, all with parliamentary experience and poised to challenge Joan Baldoví, the Generalitat Valenciana presidency candidate and longtime Valencia deputy in the state legislature, in the event of leadership shifts.
In Alicante, Bellido previously served on the city council and now seems nearer to a seat in the Valencian Parliament. In Elche, the situation became more delicate after a sudden departure from the regional council, positioning herself as a volunteer to lead the movement in March. That option was rapidly sidelined amid the tight timeline and surrounding noise, as priorities shifted.
Penultimate phase
Esquerra Unida has moved ahead of its regular partner Podemos and announced involvement with Sumar. After resisting in municipal elections and maintaining a presence of over a hundred councilors in Alicante and the regional parliament, the party faces a different tone in the run-up to the 28M. The term used within the circle was a candid assessment of the situation as a potential setback.
EUPV will also use the primary system to elect its representatives, ensuring a voice for militants navigating the tight schedule ahead. Since its formation, the group has projected calm, presenting itself as a founding pillar of the movement and convinced an agreement can be reached quickly. With Alberto Garzón serving as the reference point in Madrid, the drive to counter the right-wing wave appears essential.