On 12 October 2026, the Comuns sharply criticised the agreement between Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya and Podemos and reaffirmed their intention to run independently in Catalonia within the Frente Amplio The party said that Gabriel Rufián had entered the race with the aim of uniting the left, but was now doing the opposite. The Comuns also pointed out that they had finished ahead of Esquerra in Catalonia in the 2023 Spanish general election.
According to consistent reports, the format agreed by the two parties provides for a coordinated campaign: in Catalonia, Gabriel Rufián will lead Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya’s list; in addition, Rufián and Podemos politician Irene Montero intend to appear together to mobilise the left-wing camp beyond Catalonia as well. The details of the pact have not been fully made public.
The Comuns said they did not want their own brand absorbed into another party. They continue to back Ada Colau as a potential unifying figure and advocate a broad candidacy bringing together the forces that helped defeat the right in 2023. The move by Esquerra and Podemos had caused “deep disappointment” among left-wing voters, sources close to the Comuns said. Talks between the groups involved are reportedly continuing, while the deadlines for formal alliances ahead of the election remain politically and organisationally significant.
Background: The debate over a shared left-wing project in Catalonia and across Spain has intensified since the summer. Podemos split from the Sumar alliance in parliament and embarked on an independent course. In this context, the rapprochement between Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya and Podemos is seen as an attempt to pool resources and specifically appeal to left-wing voters.
Assessment: In the short term, cooperation between Esquerra and Podemos could boost visibility and mobilisation. Politically, however, it raises the risk of a fragmented left in Catalonia if the Comuns and other actors run separately. Whether this creates momentum for a broader alliance or leads to competition will depend on the next negotiations and on whether key points of disagreement — leading figures, policy priorities and list arrangements — are resolved in the coming days.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).