A tune full of ups and downs
From "we need to talk" to "don't disrespect us." Between one phrase and the other—the first from Oriol Junqueras and the second from Pablo Iglesias—almost a decade has passed. Both are a faithful symptom of the course of a relationship of ups and downs and tensions between a party like Podemos, which embraces a plurinational state, and the pro-independence movement.
Despite being able to sympathize with Esquerra and Junts on the cause of the dejudicialization of Catalan politics and self-determination, Podemos's new strategy of distancing itself from the government and amending its agreements with pro-independence groups has increased its confrontation with them.
In their efforts to engage with the independence movement, the Purple Party has always prioritized ERC. In fact, when they were within the Commons, they pushed for a shift from a pro-independence government to a left-wing one due to their common ground on social and ideological issues. These agreements have sometimes resulted in alliances in Congress to pressure the PSOE—as happened with the Trans Law or the gas cap.
However, there have been tensions in Podemos's interpretation of October 1st—the fact that they didn't perceive it as a "social revolution" like the May 15th referendum disappointed the Republicans. These rifts, which have deepened in recent weeks, are exemplified by the online spat between Oriol Junqueras and Pablo Iglesias last week.
The dialogue between the founder of Podemos and the president of ERC has been fluid and, at times, almost daily. In April 2015, the two met in person on a La Sexta program. Behind the cameras, they exchanged phone numbers.
Relations grew more tense. The high point was the failed motion of no confidence that the Purple Party (Poleños) presented against Mariano Rajoy in June 2017. The Republicans supported it and were enthusiastic about Irene Montero.
However, positions became more bitter and diverged as October 1, 2017, approached. Esquerra wanted the purple leader to go further in supporting their legitimacy.
Belarra's refusal to accept immigration delegation escalates their confrontation with JxCat and EsquerraAs often happens in setbacks, outside agents intervene to try to resolve the disagreements, as Jaume Roures sought at a dinner he organized between the leaders of both parties in August 2017. With Junqueras in prison, there was renewed sympathy for the Purple Party's defense of the release of pro-independence politicians. Iglesias visited the Republican in Lledoners in October 2018.
Read also Oriol Junqueras: "We don't want the PP and Vox to govern, but the priority is Catalonia." Pedro Ruiz, Jaume V. Aroca
At that time, the Madrid native attempted to act as a liaison to integrate Esquerra into the budget equation and ensure they played a role in the governability of the state, something he has always championed. This architect's role in uniting a majority of the left-wing PSOE and nationalism was most evident in the vote of no confidence that elevated Pedro Sánchez to the presidency of the government. Iglesias was key to the PDeCAT's "yes" vote—despite Puigdemont's opposition to the operation.
Specifically, there was also an understanding with the leader of JxCat on the Catalan issue. In 2021, as Vice President of the Government, Iglesias compared the former president's "exile" to that of the Republicans during the Civil War. Puigdemont thanked him for it, but was quick to distance himself, pointing out that the Purple Party leader was not part of "any pro-independence strategy."
Balance has been a constant in the relationship between the two. Two days after meeting with Junqueras in prison, the Madrid native called the former Catalan leader, who invited him to a personal meeting that never materialized.
But these balances have always been shattered as soon as ideological considerations have entered the playing field. The most obvious evidence lies in the agreement that the post-Convergent parties reached with the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) for the delegation of powers over immigration. Without the support of Podemos—which is radically opposed—it will not materialize. Accusations of seeing "far-right influences" in the pact have strained the political landscape with Carles Puigdemont's party.
And if there was any glimmer of hope for an agreement between the two parties on this issue, it was completely blown away by the words of Podemos's general secretary, Ione Belarra, in which she claimed that the Mossos d'Esquadra would carry out "racist raids" if these powers were transferred. JxCat viewed this as "primarily a form of supremacy and xenophobia." In this context, Puigdemont yesterday referred to the "purple" party as "architects of chaos" and lumped them in with Vox by referring to the extremes.
The debate on an allianceIn this strained climate between Podemos and the independence movement, Gabriel Rufián's proposal for a plurinational alliance has emerged. Although the ERC spokesperson in Congress has always expressed sympathy for Podemos—he attended an event for the party in 2023—and has praised Irene Montero, he did not mention them in the coalition he proposes. In fact, he appealed not to create this space "from the office of a university in Madrid with broken antennas regarding the Basque Country and Catalonia." Rufián himself recently reproached Belarra's party for saying that "no to everything" is "bad business" for the left.
Belarra's words also didn't go down well in Calabria. There was a verbal escalation. Junqueras said of those statements that "they used to be made by Albert Rivera and Inés Arrimadas." Pablo Iglesias retorted: "Neither Rivera nor Arrimadas nor your new partners in the PSOE came to see you in prison."
The dejudicialization and the defense of the plurinationality of the State balanced the dialogueThe Esquerra leader replied, "Things change, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse." "The fact that you're starting to sound like Ciudadanos seems like a change for the worse to me," he added. The comparison irritated Iglesias: "That's like me saying you sound like CiU and Pujol [...] For my part, we'll leave it at that, but don't disrespect us." In the Republican headquarters, they downplay these tensions, which they foresee will only worsen. Furthermore, while there were possibilities for a common front, Junqueras emphasized this Sunday in La Vanguardia that, given Podemos's arguments regarding the Mossos d'Esquadra, "it's impossible."
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