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| Sumar (political platform) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sumar |
| Founded | 2022 |
| Headquarters | Madrid, Spain |
| Country | Spain |
Sumar (political platform) is a Spanish left-wing electoral platform formed to contest the 2023 general election, aiming to unify various progressive forces across Spain. It emerged from negotiations involving national and regional actors seeking an alternative to established parties such as Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and Podemos (Spanish political party). The platform brought together figures from unions, social movements, and regional parties including members formerly associated with United Left (Spain), En Comú Podem, and Más País.
Sumar was created amid political realignments following the 2019 and 2021 electoral cycles, with origins tied to discussions between individuals linked to Yolanda Díaz, Pablo Iglesias Turrión, and other left-leaning leaders from regions like Catalonia, Valencian Community, and Andalusia. The platform's formation involved actors from organizations such as Comisiones Obreras, UGT, Equo, and municipal groups influenced by the 15-M Movement and the municipal platform Barcelona en Comú. Negotiations referenced agreements and contrasts with coalitions like Unidas Podemos and alliances shaped by the 2015 Spanish general election aftermath. Early meetings included representatives from regional parties such as En Marea, Podemos Euskadi, and Nueva Canarias, reflecting a strategy to bridge national and regional agendas similar to past pacts like the Geroa Bai arrangements in Navarre.
The platform articulated a progressive program drawing on traditions from Social democracy, Green politics, and Democratic socialism currents, aligning rhetorically with policies advocated by leaders in Latin America such as Lula da Silva and José Mujica while situating itself within European trends exemplified by Syriza and Die Linke. It emphasized measures on labor rights referenced by unions like Confederación Sindical de Comisiones de Acción Sindical and UGT, and proposals touching taxation debates reminiscent of reforms championed by Pedro Sánchez in different contexts. Sumar's ecological commitments echoed agendas from European Green Party actors and environmentalists connected to movements around the Doñana National Park and debates similar to those in Paris Agreement discussions. On territorial issues, the platform navigated tensions raised in historical episodes such as the Catalan independence referendum, 2017, seeking a negotiated approach involving actors like Quim Torra and institutions such as the Spanish Constitutional Court. Social policy stances intersected with campaigns led by groups like Mujer y Derecho and NGOs involved in asylum questions related to crises like the European migrant crisis.
Sumar operated as a coalition framework with a coordinating council drawing figures from municipal, regional, and national backgrounds, resembling organizational models used by coalitions such as En Comú Podem and Izquierda Unida. Its public face included personalities connected to the Ministry offices held by Yolanda Díaz and advisors formerly associated with think tanks like Fundación Paz y Solidaridad and research centers akin to Elcano Royal Institute. Regional branches coordinated with parties such as Compromís, EH Bildu, and Bloc Nacionalista Valencià in state-level negotiations, while liaising with municipal platforms inspired by Madrid en Pie. Leadership structures combined elected spokespeople, policy commissions, and working groups on health, housing, and labor that interacted with institutions like Instituto de Salud Carlos III and trade organizations including CEOE.
In the 2023 general election, Sumar competed under a unified list strategy, negotiating joint candidacies with formations such as Compromís, Más País, and various municipal platforms. The platform's results were compared to historical performances by coalitions in elections like the 2016 Spanish general election and the post-crisis outcomes following the 2011 Spanish general election. Sumar entered into parliamentary negotiations with the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party to influence government formation processes reminiscent of prior agreements including the 2019 investiture talks. Alliances at the regional level involved pacts with parties like EH Bildu in Basque Country and discussions with the leaderships of Canarian Coalition and Nueva Canarias about shared candidacies.
Media coverage from outlets such as El País, El Mundo, ABC (newspaper), La Vanguardia, and Público (Spanish newspaper) highlighted both endorsements and critiques, with commentary drawing comparisons to figures like Pedro Sánchez and Pablo Iglesias Turrión. Analysts from universities such as Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, and research centers including Real Instituto Elcano debated Sumar's capacity to reconcile diverse actors from regional parties like Compromís and nationalist formations including Junts per Catalunya. Criticism targeted internal cohesion issues similar to those experienced by Izquierda Unida and strategic choices that echoed debates around the Podemos brand and its electoral alliances. Civil society organizations, including Amnesty International (Spanish section), and labor unions like CCOO issued mixed statements about policy priorities.
Sumar influenced coalition-building dynamics in Spain by providing an alternative framework for left-wing unity, affecting negotiations in investiture debates and legislative bargaining comparable to previous pivotal moments involving Ciudadanos and Vox. Its legacy is assessed in relation to long-term realignments traced back to the 2008 financial crisis and the mobilizations of the 15-M Movement, impacting future collaborations among parties such as Podemos, United Left (Spain), and regional groups like En Comú Podem. Scholars at institutions like Universidad de Salamanca and think tanks including CIDOB have posited that Sumar contributed to evolving strategies for coalition politics in Spain, with potential influence on policy areas overseen by ministries historically associated with figures like Carmen Calvo and Nadia Calviño.