It was difficult, but the initial disposition of the parties suggested a possibility for agreement between the left in Aragon in view of the regional elections on February 8. However, the negotiations have not ultimately come to fruition and there will be no coalition: Chunta Aragonesista, Izquierda Unida and Podemos will compete separately in the elections.
This Friday the deadline to register coalitions ended and, despite the fact that IU and Podemos have been meeting for much of the afternoon, the pact has fallen by the wayside. Meanwhile, at CHA there has been no contact during the day.
The only agreement that has been reached has been between IU and Sumar, a party without representation in the community. The objective, both political actors have pointed out, is to “open a new stage in the community and offer a real alternative for change in the face of the exhaustion of the current model.” “The coalition responds to a clear demand from citizens: cooperation between progressive forces to improve people’s lives and govern for those who support Aragon every day with their work. It is an agreement designed to add, to widen the space for change and to restore hope to those who want a fairer, greener and more democratic Aragon,” they added.
Meanwhile, after the breakdown of talks with IU, Podemos sent a statement in which they relegated the negotiation to the last paragraph, for which they take credit for the initiative. Their “proposal,” the purple party argues, “has not been accepted,” which they “regret.” Given this, they have reaffirmed the candidacy of María Goicoechea, former director of the Aragonese Women’s Institute in the second Government of the socialist Javier Lambán and who was supported by 88% of the militancy.
“We Podemos Aragón considers this clearly left-wing candidacy essential, given that the PSOE has proven to be incapable of responding to problems such as housing, has multiplied military spending and is surrounded by cases of corruption and machismo – by which its candidate, Pilar Alegría, has been affected –, something that only generates disappointment among the progressive electorate and strengthens the right and the extreme right.”, the formation has transferred.
The “vetoes”
The truth is that, as evidenced this Friday morning by the general secretary of CHA, Isabel Lasobras, not even a meeting has taken place between more than two parties, and of course not between the four formations in contention. “There are vetoes to sit at the dialogue table,” insisted the number two of CHA in reference to Podemos.
Days ago, shortly after the electoral call, a window of opportunity opened for an agreement that is unprecedented in Aragon: the three forces to the left of the PSOE with representation in the Cortes of Aragon expressed their willingness to reach an agreement for a joint candidacy. “With the one that is falling outside, being cohesive and coherent with our values of unity is important,” said the general secretary of IU, Marta Abengochea. “The situation forces us,” said the Organization Secretary of Podemos Aragón, Ricard Mitjana. However, in Madrid the purple formation already hinted that the parties without representation in Aragon – in reference to Sumar – could not be part of the pact.
CHA has always been, at least publicly, more reticent to express optimism about the conversations, which the Aragonese party framed as “normal meetings between parties.” Lasobras called the meeting of the National Committee last Sunday, in which it was clear that CHA was not going to join the agreement: “There are parties that are using the concept of unity in a demagogic way to lead to confusion,” said the general secretary of the party in reference to Podemos.
In memory there are situations such as the one recorded in the 2023 municipal elections in the Huesca City Council, when these three formations – or their confluences – were on the verge of 5% of the votes, the threshold from which they would have obtained a councilor: 4.68% Podemos, 4.47% Cambiar Huesca and 4.43% CHA. Without forgetting Equo, which remained at 4.3%. This paved the way for the PP to govern in the city and made it easier for Vox, with 10.5% of the votes, to take three councillors.
