Left-wing parties are scrambling to unite ahead of Andalucia’s May 17 elections after polls suggested the incumbent conservatives are set to retain their absolute majority.

Specifically, Podemos is making a last-ditch push for an alliance with Izquierda Unida.

The move was first signalled by Podemos candidate Juan Antonio Delgado, who opened the door on Sunday to joining forces under the Por Andalucia platform.

Now, the party’s national leadership has backed that approach, making clear they are willing to negotiate without preconditions.

‘What the Andalucian leadership has told me is that they have not set any kind of conditions,’ said party spokesperson Pablo Fernandez.

‘We fully support the position of our candidate and the Andalusian leadership, who have already extended a hand to Antonio Maíllo within the framework of Por Andalucia.’

Parties have until Friday, April 3, to formally register coalitions, leaving just days to strike a deal that could reshape the left-wing vote.

For now, Podemos says the ball is firmly in IU’s court.

‘There have been no conditions or requirements at all,’ Fernandez insisted. ‘We are waiting for a response.’

He added that if talks do begin, there is reason to be optimistic an agreement can be reached.

The objective is clearly to unite the fragmented left to try to unseat incumbent president Juanma Moreno.

But with polls suggesting the PP leader is on course to retain power, any delay or division could prove costly.

Podemos says negotiations are being led directly by its Andalucian branch and Delgado himself, with hopes of pulling together a unified front in time.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.