After the July 23 general elections that brought together nearly twenty parties in a broader coalition, the door remained open for Sumar to join the Pedro Sánchez government. Yolanda Díaz’s political project is now focusing on strengthening its operational fabric in the Valencian Community to secure endurance over time. The lead figure steering this effort is Congress MP Txema Guijarro, who already topped the Alicante province in the 23J elections. Two key factors shape this analysis: first, whether Sumar will be part of the government and how that would reshape the political landscape, and second, how Compromís will adapt to the evolving political sphere. The Valencian coalition has made clear it will not concede positions lightly.
Txema Guijarro: “What we see between PP and Vox is just a sample of what’s to come”
In early August, Guijarro left Podemos, where he had been deeply involved in recent years, and has since focused his work on building Sumar in the Alicante region. One of Guijarro’s strongest allies in this effort is Xavier López, a former Podemos councilor in Alicante who has accompanied him to nearly all 23J campaign events.
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A central guarantee of Guijarro’s work is his close connection to Yolanda Díaz, reminiscent of how Pablo Iglesias rose within Podemos. He led the state candidacy despite tensions with Compromís and the electoral agreement. Guijarro’s push for Sumar has at times faced opposition from Cambiemos Orihuela leader Carlos Bernabé. Months after the election, observers await how this will unfold. Within Compromís, the message is clear: Sumar must decide its identity and the model it will pursue. “For now they are merely a parliamentary group,” sources told this newspaper, while also noting a cautious consensus already forming in the Community.
Guijarro himself has indicated that a plan exists to consolidate the platform. The project contemplates a slower evolution—potentially up to two years—before the organic structure is fully realized, aligning with the cadence of municipal, regional, and general elections. Much of Sumar’s momentum, as with Guijarro, likely stems from a belief that a party reconstituted around Yolanda Díaz should expand beyond a single coalition to become a durable political force in the region. The party’s participation in the 23J election followed a strategic consolidation after the ERE setback and the decision to join Díaz’s broader platform.
Since the election, the Compromís-Sumar brand has added four seats in the Community, reflecting the alliances formed with Valencians such as Alberto Ibáñez and Àgueda Micó, along with Nahuel GonzálezEsquerra Unida. During subsequent negotiations, Díaz’s team suggested a shift away from the previous ground, resulting in Díaz occupying the second deputy speakership within the Congress parliamentary group, signaling an elevated role in national discussions while maintaining regional balance.