Podemos and Catalan Green-Socialist party ICV to run together in both Catalan and Spanish elections

Barcelona (ACN).- On Friday, the Catalan Green-Socialist party ICV and alternative left-wing Podem (Catalan branch of the Spanish party Podemos), reached an agreement to run together in the Spanish elections, after already having agreed a few days ago on running together in the next Catalan elections (scheduled for 27 September). The Spanish elections have not been called yet, but are expected to be held later this year, according to Barcelona-based newspaper 'El Periódico' and sources from the two political parties. In late June, the leaders of ICV, Joan Herrera, and Podemos, Pablo Iglesias, already announced that the two parties intended to participate as a coalition in both the Catalan and Spanish elections. They are to run in both ballots under the name 'Catalunya Sí que es pot' (in English, 'Catalonia yes we can'), adding the word 'Podem' at the beginning of the name for the Spanish elections. Their election programme will include Catalonia's right to self-determination and the launching of a constituent process at Catalan level to create the Catalan Republic. Later, Catalans would vote on the relationship this Republic would have with Spain, which would also go through a constituent process itself. However, the alternative left coalition has not clarified whether full independence from Spain would be among the options on which Catalans would be able to vote.

On 26 June, Podemos' Secretary General, Pablo Iglesias, and the leader of this political party in Catalonia, Gemma Ubasart, met in Barcelona with ICV leaders Joan Herrera and Dolors Camats. During this meeting, they already expressed their will to run together in both the Catalan and Spanish elections. A few days ago, an agreement to run as a coalition for the 27 September elections - under the name 'Catalunya Sí que es pot' - was reached. This will include not only Podemos and ICV but also the post-communist coalition Esquerra Unida i Alternativa (EUiA) and the alternative left and pro-Catalan independence party Procés Constituent (which still has yet to approve the agreement with Podemos). On Friday, a second agreement was concluded between Podemos and ICV: this time, on running together in the Spanish general elections.

Friday's agreement is 'preliminary', as it could include other political and social actors

With regard to the inclusion of other actors, sources from Podemos have been speaking of a 'preliminary arrangement', assuring that in the end it will include other entities as well, such as Procés Constituent, Bcomú and representatives of civil society. In addition, they highlight that the name 'Catalunya Sí que es pot' is emerging as the electoral slogan for Catalonia. According to the newly reached agreement, the coalition's electoral manifesto will include the right to self-determination, also recognising Catalonia as a sovereign political entity.

The road map agreed by the bloc running for the 27-S elections foresees a constitutional process for Catalonia, leading to the approval of a Catalan constitution and the creation of a Catalan Republic; a model compatible in theory with a future independent state, but also with a federal or confederal solution. The constitutional process included in the road map should provide citizens with the opportunity to decide both Catalonia's relationship with Spain and its economic and social model, they argue. However, the coalition has not explicitly guaranteed that citizens will be able to vote on full independence.