In the hard core of the leader of Sumar, Yolanda Díaz, Catalan is spoken, although not only, but those who speak it exercise great influence and share, in most cases, the roots of the defunct Iniciativa per Catalunya Greens (ICV). In addition, the ecosocialist formation, heir to the historic PSUC that had to fold sails in 2019 due to its pharaonic debts and refound itself the following year, has moved on from lamenting the lack of weight with which they started their alliance with those of Ada Colau, around 2017, to practically dominate the Catalan left-wing conglomerate just as the decline of the mayoress begins.
“They are communicating vessels”. At the moment when Colau and his circle lose weight in the conglomerate of the Catalan left, “the few organized ones that were there emerge like a cork”, point out sources close to Díaz. But there is nothing to suggest that ICV will return as such, they warn.
The commons assure that in organic decisions “the logic of parties does not operate”, but the fact is that since ICV undertook its refoundation under the name of Green Left (EV), in March 2021, people from its rows have been gaining influence. The last example is the deputy Aina Vidal, affiliated to EV and appointed head of list by Barcelona for the general elections of 23-J to replace Jaume Asens. And with Vidal, the choice of Júlia Boada, member of the EV board, to lead the list for Girona is also striking.
Asens is highly trusted by Colau, but due to his pro-independence profile, he generated reluctance from the people of ICV and Podemos when he was elected leader in 2019, to the point of getting more blank votes than in favor in the assembly that elected him because the regulations did not allow voting against him. Instead, Vidal will be accompanied on the list by another colleague, the coordinator of the commons Candela López, although also by people close to Colau, such as Gerardo Pisarello and Gala Pin.
The appointment of Vidal instead of Asens would also not have to do with the return of the old ICV, but with territorial power. “They have won the territories”, where Asens does not have a special sympathy; “it’s not like I’m winning ICV”, explain the commons. But it is enough to take a look at the territorial implementation of the communes – with mayors like those of Prat, Santa Perpètua or Montcada – and institutional – with David Cid and Joan Carles Gallego in Parliament – ??to measure the power of EV.
“With the loss of the Barcelona mayor’s office, the debate on the future of the space opens”, so that those who remain gain prominence, and a large part are “the cadres of the extinct ICV, who are dedicated to to politics in different areas”, insist the same sources.
Even if it is not a premeditated strategy, the truth is that members of EV are gaining weight just as the post Colau era begins, and that they already have influence in the environment close to Yolanda Díaz. The leader of Sumar has surrounded herself with leaders who drink from the ecosocialist party, such as Josep Vendrell, her current chief of staff, or MEP Ernest Urtasun. And among the 35 sectoral coordinators who provide content for their candidacy are names from the ICV orbit. But “it’s pure coincidence”, they point out in the purple formation, which can be explained by a simple personal affinity.
