13th Federal Assembly of United Left (Spain)

13th Federal Assembly of IU
← 2021 7–12 May 2024 (primary)
18–19 May 2024 (assembly)
90 (of 150) delegates in the 11th Federal Assembly of IU
Plurality of delegates needed to win
Registered16,046 (primary)
Turnout3,850 (52.1%) (primary)
 
Candidate Antonio Maíllo Sira Rego Álvaro Aguilera
Popular vote 4,463 (53.4%) 1,957 (23.4%) 1,178 (14.1%)
 
Candidate José Antonio García Rubio
Popular vote 696 (8.3%)
Coordinator before election

Enrique Santiago (acting)

 Elected Coordinator

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

Candidate Age Notable positions Announced Eliminated Campaign Ref.

Elected

Candidate elected as general coordinator.
Antonio Maíllo 		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 checkY Elected [7]

Proclaimed

Candidates who met the endorsement requirement and were officially proclaimed to contest the primary election.
Sira Rego 		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]
Álvaro Aguilera 		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]
José Antonio
García Rubio 		75 Federal Secretary of Economy and Employment of IU (2012–2020) 14 March 2024 14 May 2024
(La Izquierda Necesaria) 		[10]

Endorsements

Total

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

Summary of candidate endorsement results
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]
Endorsements by party members
Maíllo
 
 38.53%
Aguilera
 
 23.73%
Rego
 
 20.81%
García Rubio
 
 16.93%

Results

Summary of the 15–27 March 2021 IU assembly results
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]
Vote by party members
Maíllo
 
 53.45%
Rego
 
 23.44%
Aguilera
 
 14.11%
García Rubio
 
 8.33%
Blank ballots
 
 0.67%

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ Ortiz, Alberto (13 March 2024). "Sira Rego presenta su candidatura para liderar Izquierda Unida". elDiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "XIII Asamblea: La militancia de IU vota entre cuatro listas". Mundo Obrero (in Spanish). 8 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  12. ^ 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.