Leftist alliance and Podemos set to join forces ahead of Spain’s snap elections

A last-minute decision by over a dozen leftist parties to run together in Spain’s snap elections in July could improve the likelihood of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez being confirmed at the ballot box.

The deal between the leftist alliance Sumar — which is helmed by Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz — and left-wing party Podemos is designed to create a united front against the conservative People’s Party (PP), which polling data indicate is heading for victory, as reflected in POLITICO’s Poll of Polls.

That means that Podemos would join 14 other small leftist groups in the Sumar alliance.

Sánchez, who leads the Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), called a general election for July 23 after the Socialist Party and Podemos suffered a major blow in municipal and general elections on May 28 — which many attributed to fragmentation within the left camp in Spain.

However, though an agreement between the two political forces was concluded, Sumar and Podemos remain split on several key issues, notably whether Podemos’ Irene Montero should be part of the alliance.

Montero, currently the equality minister in the coalition government, came under fire for leading a flawed sexual consent law, whose loopholes meant several convicted offenders had their penalties reduced. While Díaz insisted that Montero’s presence could be an “insurmountable obstacle,” Podemos heavyweights reportedly called Montero’s exclusion an “enormous political error.”

Analysts say that a rightwing government nevertheless remains the most likely outcome of July’s elections, especially if the PP teams up with far-right party Vox.