A few days after Irene Montero called for open primaries, the alliance Sumar is sticking to its own timetable and sees no reason at present to adopt a primaries model proposed by Podemos . Representatives of Sumar and partner parties indicated between 14 and 19 September that internal discussions would continue – with no immediate change to procedures and no leading candidate named.
On 12 September, Montero said Podemos favoured “open primaries”, in which non-members could also take part, to form a joint left-wing list for the forthcoming parliamentary elections. The aim was to overcome fragmentation to the left of the Socialists and settle the leadership question transparently. The proposal is directed at the decisions expected in the alternative left camp ahead of the 2027 elections .
Sources within Sumar, Izquierda Unida, Más Madrid and his party Comuns said in the days after the announcement that the initiative had not been coordinated. They were working on a joint approach to be approved gradually by the relevant bodies and wanted to avoid a “media-driven fast-track process”. They also stressed that the door remained open to agreements in principle, but no specific commitments had yet been made on joint primaries or the selection of a shared leader.
Meanwhile, the sovereigntist left-wing forces reiterated their intention to run separate lists with a regional profile. Gabriel Rufián from ERC, who had previously hinted at the possibility of a nationwide alliance, has now limited his option to Catalonia. This further weakens the prospect of a single broad movement to the left of the Socialists.
The conflict is less about personalities than about procedures. Podemos is pushing for the widest possible participation through open primaries; Sumar favours internal negotiations and a step-by-step timetable. Until Sumar and Podemos reach a binding agreement, fragmentation will remain a political factor. No specific dates have been set for a joint list or nomination process. For the 2027 elections, it will therefore be crucial to resolve the points of disagreement – selection method, policy platform and branding – soon. Otherwise, parallel campaigns and mutual blockages in the left-wing camp are likely.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).