Gabriel Rufián, spokesperson for Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya in the Congreso de los Diputados, published his book “Cómo ganar a los fachas (Leer antes de votar)”. Agency reports and booksellers’ information confirm the publication date; several media outlets frame the work as an intervention in the election campaign ahead of the early parliamentary election scheduled for 29 November 2026 .
The book documents political proposals and principles that Rufián has publicly advocated for years. Reports highlight its focus on the housing market, migration, taxes, institutional reform and Catalonia’s right to self-determination. The ERC politician also sets out the aim of uniting the left and increasing its ability to exert influence vis-à-vis the Partido Socialista Obrero Español. In interviews and reports, he is quoted as hoping to strengthen his own current within the left; this should be distinguished from concrete plans for government, which depend on the election result and decisions within the party.
The book’s publication has intensified debate about a political style that commentators and columnists have dubbed “rufianismo”. The term is not a clearly defined programme concept used by an organisation, but a media label for Rufián’s confrontational rhetoric in parliament, his strong presence on social media and his deliberately down-to-earth language. Some commentators see this as an effective way of making a point, while others criticise the tone as polarising. These are journalistic assessments; they are no substitute for policy decisions or institutional definitions.
The timing of the book’s publication is strategically significant. It comes just over five weeks before election day and, according to consistent reports, is intended to raise Rufián’s profile beyond Catalonia. Its immediate political impact remains uncertain: only the campaign and analysis of the results on 29 November will show whether the appeal associated with “rufianismo” mobilises additional voters or consolidates its opponents.
The book’s publication, its main themes and the fact that “rufianismo” is being discussed in national media are documented. It cannot be established, and is therefore not claimed here, that any one media outlet coined the term; earlier columns had already used it. Facts from the book and official announcements must be clearly distinguished from assessments in commentaries and analyses.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).