13th Federal Assembly of United Left (Spain) explained

Election Name:13th Federal Assembly of IU
Flag Image:Logo Izquierda Unida, versión bocadillo.svg
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:12th Federal Assembly of United Left (Spain)
Previous Year:2021
Votes For Election:
Plurality of delegates needed to win
Registered:16,046
Turnout:3,850 (52.1%)
Election Date:7–12 May 2024
18–19 May 2024
Candidate1:Antonio Maíllo
Colour1:237D33
1Data1:4,463 (53.4%)
Candidate2:Sira Rego
Colour2:E3466A
1Data2:1,957 (23.4%)
Candidate3:Álvaro Aguilera
Colour3:8F5A5A
1Data3:1,178 (14.1%)
Candidate4:José Antonio García Rubio
Colour4:E66A45
1Data4:696 (8.3%)
Coordinator
Before Election:Enrique Santiago (acting)
After Election:Antonio Maíllo

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

CandidateAgeNotable positionsAnnouncedEliminatedCampaign

Elected

Candidate elected as general coordinator.
Antonio MaílloGeneral 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[7]

Proclaimed

Candidates who met the endorsement requirement and were officially proclaimed to contest the primary election.
Sira RegoMinister of Youth and Children (since 2023)
Member of the European Parliament for Spain (2019–2023)
City Councillor of Rivas-Vaciamadrid (2007–2019)
13 March 202414 May 2024
[8]
Álvaro Aguilera38General 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 202414 May 2024[9]
José Antonio
García Rubio
75Federal Secretary of Economy and Employment of IU (2012–2020)14 March 202414 May 2024
[10]

Endorsements

Total

Candidates seeking to run were required to collect the endorsements of at least 2% of the total party members (~321 endorsements).

Candidate! colspan="3"
Endorsements
Count
Antonio Maíllo963 6.00 38.53
Álvaro Aguilera593 3.70 23.73
Sira Rego520 3.24 20.81
José Antonio García Rubio423 2.64 16.93
Total2,499
Valid endorsements2,499 15.57
Not endorsing13,547 84.43
Total members16,046
Sources[11]

Results

Summary of the 15–27 March 2021 IU assembly results
CandidatePrimaryAssembly
Votes%Votes%
Antonio Maíllo4,463 53.45Unopposed
Sira Rego1,957 23.44colspan="2"
Álvaro Aguilera1,178 14.11colspan="2"
José Antonio García Rubio696 8.33colspan="2"
Blank ballots56 0.67colspan="2"
Total8,350 colspan="2"
Valid votes8,350 100.00colspan="2" rowspan="4"
Invalid votes0 0.00
Votes cast / turnout8,350 52.05
Abstentions7,696 47.97
Registered voters16,046 130
Sources[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Chouza . Paula . 2023-11-17 . Alberto Garzón anuncia en una carta a la militancia que deja la dirección de Izquierda Unida . 2024-05-13 . El País . es.
  2. Web site: Romero . Alexis . 2024-05-07 . IU abre las primarias que decidirán una batalla entre cuatro candidaturas y su papel en Sumar . 2024-05-13 . . es.
  3. Web site: Cabanillas . Ana . 2024-03-13 . Sira Rego anuncia su candidatura para liderar IU y subleva al PCE, que no descarta presentar una alternativa . 2024-05-13 . . es.
  4. Web site: Cabanillas . Ana . 2024-03-20 . Antonio Maíllo prepara una candidatura para competir con Sira Rego por el liderazgo de IU . 2024-05-13 . El Periódico de España . es.
  5. Web site: 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 . 2024-05-13 . elDiario.es . es.
  6. Web site: Romero . Alexis . 2024-04-19 . IU mantiene la división interna a un mes de la asamblea que decidirá su futuro . 2024-05-13 . . es.
  7. News: 21 April 2024 . Antonio Maíllo muestra su "absoluta disposición" a liderar Izquierda Unida tras la próxima asamblea . es . Público . EFE . Madrid . 9 May 2024.
  8. News: Ortiz . Alberto . 13 March 2024 . Sira Rego presenta su candidatura para liderar Izquierda Unida . es . elDiario.es . 3 May 2024.
  9. News: 26 April 2024 . Álvaro Aguilera competirá con Sira Rego, Antonio Maíllo y José Antonio García Rubio para ser coordinador federal de IU . es . Público . Madrid . 9 May 2024.
  10. News: 14 March 2024 . El sector crítico de IU presentará candidatura alternativa a Sira Rego encabezada por José Antonio García Rubio . es . Europa Press . 9 May 2024.
  11. 8 May 2024 . XIII Asamblea: La militancia de IU vota entre cuatro listas . es . Mundo Obrero . 9 May 2024.
  12. News: 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 . es . El Mundo . Seville, Madrid . 22 May 2024.