Spain election: Podemos faces deadline for left pact

In Madrid, Spain, left-wing parties face a Friday deadline to register coalitions for the 29 November general election. Podemos and its potential partners still disagree on how to run together. Social Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy urges them to put party interests aside.

Speaking at an event held by the European Anti-Poverty Network in Spain, Bustinduy said voters cared more about housing, wages, pensions and public services than who took second or third place on a candidate list. He warned that parties ignoring the call for a joint ticket would make a serious mistake.

Gabriel Rufián, ERC’s lead candidate in Barcelona, Spain, said on Friday that his attempt to bring the left together had failed. Bustinduy said he did not understand that decision and still hoped for a deal. He said former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau and Más Madrid politician Emilio Delgado had spent the week working towards one.

The sticking points are regional deals and places on the candidate lists, particularly in Madrid. Podemos leader Ione Belarra backs different agreements in different regions to avoid losing votes. United Left, known as IU, wants talks across Spain rather than separate regional pacts.

Frente Amplio, the alliance negotiating with Podemos, has announced agreements with five more parties. Whether Podemos joins a common ticket remains unresolved as the registration deadline arrives.

Topics: Politics

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com