A last-minute deal has been struck between Spain’s main left-wing parties to run together in the upcoming Andalucia elections.
The alliance, under the banner Por Andalucia, will once again unite Izquierda Unida, Podemos and Sumar ahead of the regional vote on May 17.
The agreement was finalised on Friday – the last possible day to register coalitions – following intense negotiations over how to divide key candidates across the provinces.
Key provinces decided
Under the deal, IU and Sumar, who had already agreed a joint platform, retain control of two crucial strongholds: Sevilla, led by Antonio Maíllo, and Cadiz, headed by Esperanza Gomez.
Podemos Andalucia, meanwhile, secures the top candidate slot in Jaen and second place on the Sevilla list – positions that, based on previous results, may not guarantee seats in parliament.
Deal forced at the last minute
The agreement marks a dramatic turnaround as for months, Podemos’ national leadership had resisted joining the coalition, despite calls for unity from regional figures.
But recent election results, particularly in Castilla y Leon, triggered a rethink, leading to a rapid internal vote among party members and a frantic 48-hour negotiation to seal the pact.
The talks were described as tense, with Cadiz emerging as one of the key battlegrounds in the discussions.
‘The worst news’ for the current government
The coalition itself framed the agreement as a major political moment.
In a statement, Por Andalucia said the deal represents ‘the worst news’ for current regional president Juanma Moreno Bonilla.
‘There is agreement, there is unity and there is an alternative to end his policies,’ the group said.
Maíllo also hailed the pact, calling it ‘the only real alternative’ to the current government.
A broader alliance
The coalition will bring together multiple parties to the left of the PSOE, including IU, Sumar, Podemos and several smaller groups such as the Green Party and Alianza Verde.
In the 2022 elections, Por Andalucia secured five seats in the regional parliament.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
