Verónica Martínez Barbero, co‑coordinator of the Sumar movement, stepped into the public debate with a clear message: she wants tranquillity among citizens as the left works toward a joint electoral list. In an interview with RTVE she said, "Yo quiero lanzar un mensaje de tranquilidad a la ciudadanía." The appeal came amid negotiations that aim to bring Podemos into a common platform with Sumar and Izquierda Unida for the upcoming November 29 elections. Barbero’s tone was deliberately reassuring, framing the process as one that should proceed without alarm, even as she acknowledged that work remains to be done.
She pointed to recent history as evidence that cooperation can pay off. Barbero noted that the agreements reached in 2023 successfully countered the right and the far‑right, and she expects a similar outcome if the current talks are concluded. By referencing that earlier pact, she sought to show that the left has already proven it can unite against opposing forces and that replicating that model is both possible and desirable. The 2023 experience thus serves as a touchstone for her argument that a renewed alliance would again blunt electoral challenges from the right.
Beyond the broad call for unity, Barbero offered concrete names for key territories. She proposed Ada Colau as the candidate for Barcelona and Emilio Delgado for Madrid, arguing that these figures would help anchor a list that includes Izquierda Unida, Sumar and Podemos. By naming specific contenders, she moved the discussion from abstract principle to tangible possibilities, signalling that the left is not only talking about cooperation but also about who would stand on the ballot in Spain’s two largest cities.
The tone shifted to urgency when Barbero stressed that the negotiations must be sped up.
The tone shifted to urgency when Barbero stressed that the negotiations must be sped up. She declared, "Esto tenemos que acelerarlo y tenemos que hacerlo ya," insisting that the advanced state of the talks now requires a final push to seal the deal. While she expressed respect for Gabriel Rufián’s decision to run with ERC, she also criticised the timing of his announcement, suggesting it could complicate the effort to bring all left‑wing forces together. Her message was clear: the agreement is close, but it needs to be locked in soon to present a united front for the November 29 vote.