Sumar (political platform)

Sumar (political platform) is a left-wing to far-left political and electoral coalition in Spain, officially launched in March 2023. It was conceived as a broad platform to unite various progressive and leftist forces under the leadership of Second Vice President Yolanda Díaz, with the primary aim of contesting the 2023 Spanish general election. The coalition positions itself as a pluralistic alternative to the PSOE on the left, advocating for transformative policies in social justice, labor rights, and ecological transition.

History and formation

The formation of Sumar was a protracted process initiated by Yolanda Díaz following her successful tenure as Minister of Labour and her role in negotiating the coalition government between the PSOE and Unidas Podemos. Díaz embarked on a nationwide listening tour, known as the "Listening Tour" (*Gira de la Escucha*), engaging with civil society, social movements, and smaller political parties throughout 2022. The formal announcement came in April 2023, after a period of complex negotiations with fifteen different political organizations, including Unidas Podemos, Más País, Communist Party of Spain (PCE), and United Left. The platform's creation was seen as a strategic move to prevent vote fragmentation on the left and present a cohesive bloc against the conservative People's Party and the far-right Vox.

Political positions and ideology

Sumar's political platform is rooted in progressivism, social democracy, and green politics, with strong emphases on feminist, environmentalist, and social justice principles. Key policy proposals include a significant expansion of the welfare state, strengthening of collective bargaining and workers' rights, and a just ecological transition aligned with the European Green Deal. The coalition advocates for comprehensive tax reform to increase progressivity, a substantial increase in public investment in healthcare and education, and the promotion of affordable housing through state intervention. Its program also includes constitutional reform, support for republicanism, and a foreign policy critical of NATO expansion while supporting multilateralism through the United Nations.

Electoral performance

Sumar contested its first general election in July 2023, following the snap election called by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez after poor results for the left in the 2023 regional and local elections. The coalition secured 31 seats in the Congress of Deputies, becoming the third-largest parliamentary group. This result was crucial in enabling the formation of a new coalition government between the PSOE and Sumar, with Yolanda Díaz retaining her position as Second Vice President. The platform's performance demonstrated its ability to consolidate a significant portion of the left-wing electorate, though it fell short of some pre-election polling projections.

Leadership and organization

The platform is led by Yolanda Díaz, who serves as its presidential candidate and primary public figure. The organizational structure is designed as a confederation of its member parties, with a coordinating committee managing coalition strategy and decision-making. Key figures in its leadership include Ione Belarra, the Secretary-General of Unidas Podemos, and Alberto Garzón, the federal coordinator of United Left and former Minister of Consumer Affairs. The internal governance aims for consensus among the diverse member organizations, though this has occasionally led to public disagreements on specific policies and strategic directions, reflecting the platform's broad ideological spectrum.

Member parties and alliances

Sumar is a coalition comprising numerous political parties, movements, and independents. Its core members include Unidas Podemos, the parliamentary group formed by Podemos, United Left, and other allies. Other significant member parties are Más País, led by Íñigo Errejón, the Communist Party of Spain (PCE), Equo, and the Catalan party Catalunya en Comú. The platform also includes regionalist and nationalist forces from across Spain, such as the BNG in Galicia, Chunta Aragonesista in Aragon, and Compromís in the Valencian Community. This diverse membership is both a source of strength and a challenge for coalition cohesion.

Category:Political parties in Spain Category:2023 establishments in Spain Category:Left-wing political party alliances in Europe