In brief
Compromís, EUPV, Podem and ERPV will run together as Compromís-Front Valencià in the 29 November general election, after EUPV reversed a 75% vote against joining.
EUPV's national political council approved joining with 66% support on 16 October, after renegotiation of the offer.
Compromís heads the lists in Valencia and Castellón, Podem leads Alicante under María Teresa Pérez, and EUPV takes number three in Valencia.
Coalition registrations for the 29 November election close at midnight on 16 October.
- 16 October, middayEUPV national council holds a second vote and approves joining with 66%
- 16 October, early afternoonPodem confirms its members backed the pre-agreement with 87.7%
- 16 October, midnightDeadline for registering coalitions for the 29 November election
The deal
Left-wing parties in the Valencian Community will contest the 29 November general election on a single ballot under the Compromís-Front Valencià label. The line-up brings together Compromís, Esquerra Unida (EUPV), Podem and Esquerra Republicana (ERPV). The agreement came together only after EUPV reversed its earlier position. Its national political council had voted against joining on the night of Thursday, 15 October, with 75% of members opposed. After further talks, a second vote on 16 October approved the coalition with 66% support. Podem said its members had backed the pre-agreement with 87.7% of the vote. Coalition registrations close at midnight on 16 October, so the paperwork had to be finished that day.
Internal ratification
Compromís's partner parties ratified the pact through quick consultations on 16 October. The Consell Nacional of Més Compromís backed it with 80%, the Mesa Nacional of Iniciativa with 87.5%, and Els Verds with 98%. Podem's members, as noted above, approved it with 87.7%.
- Podem members
- 87.7 %
- Més Compromís Consell Nacional
- 80 %
- Iniciativa Mesa Nacional
- 87.5 %
- Els Verds
- 98 %
- EUPV national council (second vote)
- 66 %
Data from the article text
The EUPV federation had argued before the reversal that its party could cooperate with other forces but would not be absorbed by them.
“We can join with other political forces, but not be absorbed by them.”
The federation also accused Compromís of never intending to reach a real agreement. Compromís sources said a final effort was made on the day to bring EUPV in. The reversal followed hours of pressure, and the Frente Amplio, the state-level coalition of IU, had said it would negotiate until the deadline.
Lists and seats
Compromís will head the lists in Valencia and Castellón. Àgueda Micó, a deputy in the mixed group of the Congress, takes the first place in Valencia, and Alberto Ibáñez of Iniciativa takes the second. The two will alternate every six months as the coalition's spokesperson in the lower house. Podem gets the top spot in Alicante, led by María Teresa Pérez, the party's regional coordinator. EUPV takes the third place in Valencia and is offered a Senate seat, with the Senate arrangement to be finalised if a deal with the PSOE is reached.
Gabriel Rufián of ERPV will campaign in the Valencian region under the pact, according to sources in his party. Compromís's list in Castellón gives it the first place there as well.
What the deal does not cover
The Front label does not mean the coalition joins the Frente Amplio. The candidacy is limited to the Valencian Community, although the Senate negotiation could widen the left's representation in the upper house. Negotiators point to the regional and municipal elections, which are about eight months away, as the next test of the alliance.