Overview
- Gabriel Rufián and Podemos leader Irene Montero held a packed talk at Barcelona’s Pompeu Fabra University on Thursday to push deeper coordination among parties to the left of the PSOE.
- ERC’s president Oriol Junqueras and secretary general Elisenda Alamany did not attend after rejecting a state-wide coalition, and the party instead sent mid-level delegates Oriol López and Laura Pelay.
- A GESOP poll reported by El Periódico found 45.9% view the unity plan favorably, but only about 10% say they would definitely vote for a list led by Rufián.
- In interviews before the event, Rufián said he will stay in ERC and urged the party to accept what he called a responsibility to stop the far right.
- Junts rejected the initiative and the CUP skipped the event, highlighting the limits of a cross-party front even as Spain’s provincial seat rules reward unified lists in smaller districts.