Mallorca election pact takes shape without Podemos
Mallorca's MÉS per Mallorca votes on a left-wing election pact in Palma, Mallorca, on Thursday afternoon, 15 October: Podemos is not on the proposed list for the 29 November Congress of Deputies election. Ara Més, Sumar and Esquerra Unida have reached an agreement in principle, according to sources familiar with the talks. Podemos could still join.
Podemos wants second place
Ara Més brings together MÉS per Mallorca, Més per Menorca and Ara Eivissa. According to local media reports, Podemos wants second place on the list and a rotating candidacy. But Lluís Apesteguia of MÉS per Mallorca and Josep Castells of Més per Menorca say the lead candidate should come from Ara Més.
Sources familiar with the talks say Podemos joining Frente Amplio at national level could help bring it into the Balearic pact. Any coalition must be reported to the electoral board before Friday's deadline, leaving little time to settle the list.
A Senate deal is also on the table
The MÉS per Mallorca assembly is also expected to discuss a joint Senate bid with the PSIB. The aim is to win five of the six Senate seats elected from the Balearic Islands through open lists. Sources say those talks are well advanced but no deal has been reached.
The PSIB has already chosen Catalina Cladera, its spokesperson on the Consell de Mallorca, as its candidate for Mallorca. On Thursday morning, PSIB leader Francina Armengol said she was confident joint candidacies for Mallorca, Menorca, Eivissa and Formentera would go ahead.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com