Poll of general elections in Barcelona: PSC would win in the province with ERC second

Gabriel Rufián, the top candidate for ERC in the Congress of Deputies for the general elections on November 29, has admitted he failed to secure a unified leftist candidacy. In an interview with RAC1, Rufián acknowledged that a joint leftist ticket was likely impossible, stating, "I have failed. We have failed." He noted that despite efforts, there would probably be no agreement among leftist parties. Rufián expressed frustration over his inability to bring together Podemos, ERC, Comunes, and other leftist groups, both federal and separatist, into a united front. He mentioned that he had considered stepping down earlier this week but decided against it due to responsibility and the support of ERC's membership. His comments came after ERC announced plans to field a combined list including members of Podemos, allowing them to campaign outside Catalonia with Irene Montero, the leader of Podemos. The move drew criticism from Comunes, who accused Rufián of trying to divide the left. They expressed deep disappointment with the ERC leader. Despite integrating Podemos members as independents within ERC’s list, the party closed the door to forming any coalition with other Front Amplio parties. Rufián managed to remove most dissenting members who were unhappy with his leadership, though he surrounded himself with loyal supporters, including Jordi Albert, whom Oriol Junqueras had previously considered as an alternative should Rufián leave for the Front Amplio. Rufián criticized several leftist parties, including Comuns, BNG, Bildu, Compromís, Más Madrid, and even ERC itself, except for Podemos. He stated that while he respected Ada Colau, the leader of the Front Amplio, she lacked the ability to sway certain factions with their own electoral calculations. He emphasized that his role was to position ERC for success, despite the challenges. Rufián acknowledged that the failure to unite the left stemmed from longstanding divisions and personal conflicts. He pointed out that the current situation mirrored past issues but with more entrenched animosity. He argued that the historical moment required unity against far-right threats, yet ERC's leadership under Oriol Junqueras did not believe in his capacity to lead such a coalition. Rufián also highlighted the need for ERC to heed its founding principles, referencing Lluís Companys' historic speech in Madrid against fascism. He suggested that the current moment demanded cooperation with Comuns, which he believed the ecosocialist party's leadership hindered. He defended his stance against concerns about diluting party identities, emphasizing the threat posed by far-right forces. Despite these criticisms, Rufián maintained that the sense of common purpose he felt was absent in some decision-making spaces within ERC. He extended his critique to other parties, particularly Más Madrid, whose premature formation of a list before Podemos made a statement.