Hèctor Illueca still suffers from a bad cough when he receives us, a consequence of the pneumonia that has kept him hospitalized for five days. The Valencian vice president and Unides Podem candidate for the Generalitat Valenciana defines in this interview his clear desire for Pablo Iglesias and Yolanda Díaz to reach an agreement “before or after the 28th”. And he reiterates his harsh accusations against Compromis, which he accuses of torpedoing the agreement between Podemos and Sumar. Finally, he pleads for a change in the correlation of forces in the Botànic so that Unides Podem increases its influence in the Valencian Government.

First of all, how is your health? It seems that a serious scare has passed that has forced him to hospitalization

I am recovering. Indeed, I have had pneumonia complicated by bronchiolitis and, although I am cured, I still get very tired.

How do you assess the tension that has been generated between Podemos and Compromís a few weeks after 28M?

I think we need to be clear about this. There are political actors here who have opted for the division of the left. We have deployed a unitary strategy that we have pushed to the limit between the alternative forces to the left of the PSOE; but there are actors who want division and want to form an alliance with the economic powers and important media groups. We saw it very clearly when we criticized the abuses in the price of food by Juan Roig and other big businessmen. Quickly, Compromís came to the fore saying that this type of practice should not be criticized. It is evident that they do not want an alliance with Podemos.

You have accused Compromís of blocking Podemos’ agreement with Sumar. And he even accused this party of being “in cahoots” with the media for this purpose. Do you keep it?

Without a doubt. I think that in the Valencian Community everyone has seen it. Those who have wanted to talk have done so, as has been seen with the alliance between Podem, Esquerra Unida and Els Verds. Others have gone in the opposite direction. Why was that? Because that would mean losing the support of certain media groups. Joan Baldoví’s Compromís is not Mónica Oltra’s Compromís, and that will determine many things in the future. We will continue to have an outstretched hand, but the truth is stubborn.

You make a very harsh accusation against Compromís. I understand you have proof.

They are not tests. It was a public decision of its governing bodies that rejected any possibility of dialogue with us.

From Compromís it is said that it is inelegant that you use the figure of Mónica Oltra to attack them.

I haven’t done that. When I referred to her, I echoed information that some media had published in which it was stated that Mónica Oltra would have had a different position from that of Joan Baldoví, as an example, to the law of yes is yes.

At the regional level there has never been an agreement between Compromís and Podem to go together to the regional elections. I understand that your criticism is focused on the state level.

Of course, but I do that reading based on what I have lived in the Valencian Community. Here there have been actors who do not want an honest alliance with Podemos, and they do not want it because of that alliance of Compromís with economic and media powers. It has been seen clearly with Juan Roig, and years ago when Joan Baldoví opted for a PSOE government with Ciudadanos.

There are people who think that presenting Sumar on April 2 before 28M has been a mistake. That if it had been done after the elections, the tension that exists now would have been avoided.

On this matter I only have two things to say. The first, I am convinced that there will be an agreement before or after the 28M elections…

Would you like it to be before 28M?

I insist, I am convinced that there will be an agreement before or after 28M, the unity processes are always very complex. But, and it was the second thing I wanted to say, Sumar is not showing up for 28M, which are the ones that worry me now. Podem has encouraged a unitary strategy to try to build an alliance aimed at changing the correlation of forces in the Valencian Government.

But if there was the possibility of reaching some kind of agreement between Podemos and Sumar, even if it was only for intentions, before 28M, would that be fine?

I cannot work on hypotheses and even less on issues that are not under my control.

Would it be positive if there was an agreement to pacify that space in order to face vital elections for the Valencian left?

Of course it would be positive before or after 28M. On the part of Podemos, a willingness to agree has been reiterated, aware that the unity processes are difficult. But our commitment is firm, and the desire for unity will prevail over sectors that have opted for the division of the left.

To what extent do you think that this tension between Podemos and the forces that support Sumar can demoralize a sector of voters?

I think we are a month and a half away from the elections. The pre-campaign and the entire campaign remain. It is inevitable that state trends end up marking an electoral cycle, not only in the Valencian Community. It is essential to bet on introducing a key element to excite the social base, and that is federalism. This is the real debate that gets people excited. I believe that the Valencian Community can change Spain, it can contribute to a new political synthesis in the whole of the State. And if Valencian society supports me, the first thing I will do is present in the Valencian Parliament a proposal for Constitutional reform to invite, from the Valencian Community, to dialogue in the State as a whole about the fractures that are going through the construction of Spain.

There were regional leaders of Podemos who went to Magariños. Would you have liked to be? Was there a dialogue with the leadership of your party about whether or not to go?

These issues correspond to a negotiation for a political agreement at the state level between the political force to which I owe myself and Sumar. At that time the agreement was not possible, but it will be.

What is your relationship with Pablo Iglesias?

For me Pablo Iglesias is, first, a friend and colleague. And secondly, a teacher, like Julio Anguita was. He has represented a rebellious Spain, which connects with the red thread of popular struggles that have contributed to improving and dignifying people’s lives. He is doing what he likes and I think he is doing very well and I hope he never shuts up.

What is your opinion of Yolanda Díaz?

I have a high opinion of Yolanda Díaz. She was an exceptional labor minister; she always supported me and in very difficult moments, in decisions that other ministers would not have dared in matters of labor inspection. The only thing I can say is my appreciation, my respect, and I believe that she is an essential asset for the left in this country. I am confident that these debates can be resolved.

How would you react if Yolanda Díaz campaigned for 28M with Compromís?

I cannot work on hypotheses. I’m just saying that I aspire to a campaign that is as unitary as possible. The Unidas Podemos campaign is carried out by the militants and supporters of the coalition parties. I would very much like Ione Belarra, Irene Montero, Pablo Iglesias, Enrique Santiago, Alberto Garzón and, obviously, Yolanda Díaz to come to support us.

Don’t you find it disturbing that there is a lot of talk about partisan tactics and distribution of organic power and not about programs?

It’s true. I have always been a disciple of Anguita, of the importance of talking about the program and the project, and it is true that it seems that little is said about it. We will make an effort in the electoral campaign to explain our program, because I believe that the Valencian Community can change Spain. We must bet on the transformation of the productive model and the construction of a different economy, with industrialization, with ecological planning and with a republican Generalitat, which intervenes in the economy. It is the administration that should guide that change.

Would you like Unides Podemos to manage an area in the Generalitat different from the one now if the Botanic is republished?

It is premature to talk about it. This is not the time to talk about the distribution of power before the elections.

What has been pending from the current Botanic? What do you think should be the top priority of a third Botanist?

To his credit there are great achievements such as ending corruption and a model based on speculation. In addition, there is a second achievement, which is having invested in public services such as Health and Education. Reversing these effects has absorbed public resources, and we must boost the economy with a public investment floor that allows for a more social and sustainable production model. We have lacked something that should be the bet for the future: the transformation of the production model.

But for that, new regional financing is necessary, because with the current model the Generalitat Valenciana hardly has the capacity to maneuver.

Definitely. But a change in the model is inseparable from a tax reform that includes a tax reform for privileged groups. For that, what is needed is a change in the correlation of forces in the regional executive, in which we have more weight against the PSPV. We need more courageous policies from the Botànic.

The coordinator of Podem, Pilar Lima, risks taking the leap into municipal politics. In case of not achieving her goal. What position would she be in?

I do not work on hypotheses. Pilar Lima has demonstrated throughout her life her ability to face great challenges and has overcome them, and she is a benchmark for personal improvement. Of all the ones she has faced this one is the easiest, and she will do well. In addition, it will be key for the Valencia City Council to continue with a progressive government.