13th Federal Assembly of United Left (Spain)
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90 (of 150) delegates in the 11th Federal Assembly of IU Plurality of delegates needed to win | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Registered | 16,046 (primary) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 3,850 (52.1%) (primary) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 13th Federal Assembly of United Left was held in Madrid from 18 May to 19 May 2024, to renovate the governing bodies of the United Left (IU) and establish the party's main lines of action and strategy for the next leadership term.
The leadership election takes place in order to replace Alberto Garzón as coordinator after he resigned in late November 2023.[1] Besides, the assembly is expected to clarify United Left's relation with Sumar, the electoral platform launched by Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz ahead of the 2023 Spanish general election.
Four candidates were running to replace Garzón: Sira Rego, Minister of Youth and Children and former member of the European parliament; Antonio Maíllo, former coordinator of United Left in Andalusia and former member of that region's parliament; José Antonio García Rubio, member of the party's board; and Álvaro Aguilera, coordinator of United Left in the Community of Madrid and secretary general of the branch of the Communist Party of Spain in that region.[2]
After Garzón resigned, negotiations started among the different factions in United Left to find common ground ahead of the assembly. However, in March, Rego, who was widely regarded as Garzón's replacement as she was United Left's only minister in the government, unilaterally announced her candidacy.[3] This movement led to many sectors in the party to seek an alternative candidate, who ended being Antonio Maillo.[4][5] While negotiations continued until late April, a uniting candidate could not be found as differences were too big.[6]
Candidates[edit]
| Candidate | Age | Notable positions | Announced | Eliminated | Campaign | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elected[edit] | |||||||
| Candidate elected as general coordinator. | |||||||
.jpg) |
57 | General Coordinator of United Left/The Greens–Assembly for Andalusia (2013–2019) Member of the Parliament of Andalusia for Cádiz (2015–2019) |
21 April 2024 |  Elected
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[7] | |
Proclaimed[edit] | |||||||
| Candidates who met the endorsement requirement and were officially proclaimed to contest the primary election. | |||||||
.jpg) |
50 | Minister of Youth and Children (since 2023) Member of the European Parliament for Spain (2019–2023) City Councillor of Rivas-Vaciamadrid (2007–2019) |
13 March 2024 | 14 May 2024 |  (arribalasqueluchan.org) |
[8] | |
_(1_de_mayo_de_2018)_IMG_0416_(41134553744)_(cropped).jpg) |
38 | General Coordinator of United Left–Madrid (since 2020) General Secretary of the Communist Party of Madrid (since 2014) City Councillor of Brunete (2011–2015) |
26 April 2024 | 14 May 2024 | 
|
[9] | |
.jpg) García Rubio |
75 | Federal Secretary of Economy and Employment of IU (2012–2020) | 14 March 2024 | 14 May 2024 |  (La Izquierda Necesaria) |
[10] | |
Endorsements[edit]
Total[edit]
Candidates seeking to run were required to collect the endorsements of at least 2% of the total party members (~321 endorsements).
| Candidate | Endorsements | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % T | % V | ||||
| Antonio Maíllo | 963 | 6.00 | 38.53 | |||
| Álvaro Aguilera | 593 | 3.70 | 23.73 | |||
| Sira Rego | 520 | 3.24 | 20.81 | |||
| José Antonio García Rubio | 423 | 2.64 | 16.93 | |||
| Total | 2,499 | |||||
| Valid endorsements | 2,499 | 15.57 | ||||
| Not endorsing | 13,547 | 84.43 | ||||
| Total members | 16,046 | |||||
| Sources[11] | ||||||
Results[edit]
| Candidate | Primary | Assembly | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |||
| Antonio Maíllo | 4,463 | 53.45 | Unopposed | |||
| Sira Rego | 1,957 | 23.44 | Eliminated | |||
| Álvaro Aguilera | 1,178 | 14.11 | Eliminated | |||
| José Antonio García Rubio | 696 | 8.33 | Eliminated | |||
| Blank ballots | 56 | 0.67 | — | |||
| Total | 8,350 | — | ||||
| Valid votes | 8,350 | 100.00 | — | |||
| Invalid votes | 0 | 0.00 | ||||
| Votes cast / turnout | 8,350 | 52.05 | ||||
| Abstentions | 7,696 | 47.97 | ||||
| Registered voters | 16,046 | 130 | ||||
| Sources[12] | ||||||
References[edit]
- ^ Chouza, Paula (2023-11-17). "Alberto Garzón anuncia en una carta a la militancia que deja la dirección de Izquierda Unida". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ Romero, Alexis (2024-05-07). "IU abre las primarias que decidirán una batalla entre cuatro candidaturas y su papel en Sumar". Público (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ Cabanillas, Ana (2024-03-13). "Sira Rego anuncia su candidatura para liderar IU y subleva al PCE, que no descarta presentar una alternativa". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ Cabanillas, Ana (2024-03-20). "Antonio Maíllo prepara una candidatura para competir con Sira Rego por el liderazgo de IU". El Periódico de España (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ Ortiz, Alberto (2024-04-24). "Antonio Maíllo se presentará a liderar Izquierda Unida tras el fracaso de las negociaciones con el sector de Sira Rego". elDiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ Romero, Alexis (2024-04-19). "IU mantiene la división interna a un mes de la asamblea que decidirá su futuro". Público (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ "Antonio Maíllo muestra su "absoluta disposición" a liderar Izquierda Unida tras la próxima asamblea". Público (in Spanish). Madrid. EFE. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ Ortiz, Alberto (13 March 2024). "Sira Rego presenta su candidatura para liderar Izquierda Unida". elDiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "Álvaro Aguilera competirá con Sira Rego, Antonio Maíllo y José Antonio García Rubio para ser coordinador federal de IU". Público (in Spanish). Madrid. 26 April 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ "El sector crítico de IU presentará candidatura alternativa a Sira Rego encabezada por José Antonio García Rubio" (in Spanish). Europa Press. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ "XIII Asamblea: La militancia de IU vota entre cuatro listas". Mundo Obrero (in Spanish). 8 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ L. Pavón, Teresa; Belver, Marta (14 May 2024). "Antonio Maíllo arrasa en voto frente a la ministra Sira Rego y liderará una IU con "voz propia" dentro de Sumar". El Mundo (in Spanish). Seville, Madrid. Retrieved 22 May 2024.