Podemos vote gives rise to Izquierda Unida divisions

Share now:

• Ex-IU leader Llamazares calls vote on alliance with Podemos ‘deceitful’
• Referendum critics say militants asked to cast vote on non-existent agreement

In the midst of an internal referendum vote by 20,000 members and 50,000 sympathizers of Spain’s Izquierda Unida (United Left) party over whether or not to join in a June 26th electoral alliance with anti-austerity party Podemos, some IU party leaders and sections have criticized what they say is the “vague wording” and the premature timing of the question being put to IU militants, even before a clear program has been negotiated between the two parties.

The dissident voices within IU are complaining that there is still no negotiated agreement between Podemos and IU upon which party members can base their “Yes” or “No” response in voting already underway this week on a single referendum question: Do you approve of an electoral coalition with Podemos and other forces for the 26th of June elections?” (¿Apruebas una coalición electoral con Podemos y otras fuerzas de cara a las elecciones del 26 de junio?)

Among the IU dissidents are former party coordinator Gaspar Llamazares, with the backing of the party’s strong Izquierda Abierta (Open Left) faction, who has called the wording of the question “deceitful, given that it calls for a response without knowing the content of a possible agreement.” Llamazares’ position has also been supported by the party section in Zamora, which passed a resolution Monday calling on IU leadership to halt the voting process and postpone IU’s upcoming Federal Assembly to give time for party members to duly consider a negotiated accord with Podemos.

► Read More in Spanish at El País, La Opinión de Zamora and Cuarta Columna …

Click here to Sign Up for Progressive Spain News Updates via E-Mail ► ►

Share now: