Spain’s Podemos joins rival leftist party for June vote

Two leftist Spanish parties say they have reached a preliminary agreement to join forces in a coalition ahead of the upcoming general elections in the country.

Anti-austerity Podemos Party and its rival, Izquierda Unida (United Left or IU) agreed to create a joint list for the June 26 vote in a “serious coalition which will run to win the elections,” Pablo Iglesias, the Podemos leader, said on Monday.

“This is something historic in Spain. We will have a political space created for different forces, forces which respect each other and walk united, and because of this strength we can win against the [People’s Party],” Iglesias added.

The deal would be put to a referendum among party members in the coming weeks.

Observers and opinion polls say the alliance would boost the chances for both parties to secure more votes and parliamentary seats than center-left Socialists.

According to an official survey released late on Friday, Podemos was losing support before the upcoming election. It suggested that an alliance with United Left, would leave the two parties about 23 percent of the votes, making them the main left-wing force.

However, the conservative ruling People’s Party, led by acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, is expected to win the ballot with around 27 percent of the vote, but it would still be short of an overall majority.

Spanish political parties missed a deadline to form a new government last Monday, prompting King Felipe VI to dissolve the parliament and set June 26 as the date for snap elections.

SS