The election race is heating up in Andalusia, promising to shake up the usual balance of power. Adelante Andalucía, led by José Ignacio García, is betting on direct dialogue with residents and refusing to participate in endless disputes between left-wing parties. This approach could catch the eye of those disillusioned with traditional political forces and searching for new solutions for the region.
The party, founded by Teresa Rodríguez after breaking away from IU and Podemos, decided to chart its own course. Since 2021, Adelante Andalucía has emphasized its independence and has not joined efforts to unite the left around PSOE or Sumar. In the previous elections, they declined to join the Por Andalucía coalition and continue to follow an independent line, ignoring calls for unification.
Focusing on real issues
Instead of discussing internal conflicts, Adelante Andalucía puts issues important to locals at the center: healthcare, education, housing. García emphasizes that the party does not plan to waste energy on political quarrels, but wants to talk about what truly matters to Andalusia. In his view, most people are not interested in behind-the-scenes games; they care about who can stand up to the current Junta president, Juan Manuel Moreno.
Unlike other left-wing parties, Adelante Andalucía does not see them as rivals. García openly states that their main opponent is the ruling party, not their fellow leftists. The party is launching a campaign with striking posters featuring García alongside an angry-looking Moreno, highlighting her determination to confront the right. These materials are being distributed not only online but also on the streets, in public transport, and even as stickers and pins.
The ‘door-to-door’ strategy
One of the key features of the campaign is direct engagement with the population. Party activists hold meetings with residents in their homes, adopting the experience of Germany’s Die Linke, which successfully used this tactic in elections. Pilot visits have already taken place in Cádiz and Sevilla, and in the coming weeks the campaign will cover other cities as well. The main goal is to hear people’s real concerns and incorporate them into the election program.
Special attention is being paid to working-class neighborhoods, where, according to initiative coordinator Ana Fernández, people most often talk about the lack of medical care, housing difficulties, and the rise of xenophobic attitudes. These issues will form the cornerstone of the party’s next steps. This approach distinguishes Adelante Andalucía from other political forces, which often stick to general slogans.
Independence and new challenges
The party is in no hurry to reveal its plans for the upcoming national elections, but emphasizes that it will maintain its independence and will not join a coalition with PSOE. García points out that Adelante Andalucía will remain an Andalusian force, not subject to decisions coming from Madrid. According to El Pais, the party intends to follow the course set by Teresa Rodríguez and does not rule out the possibility of governing cities, as was the case in Cádiz under José María González (Kichi).
Unlike other left-wing movements that frequently change their strategies, Adelante Andalucía focuses on consistency and autonomy. García and his team believe this is the only way to regain voters’ trust and achieve real change in the region.
Context and comparisons
In recent years, Spain has seen a trend of new political strategies focused on direct engagement with the public. For example, the Vox party actively organizes meetings with residents of small towns to build trust and reshape the country’s political landscape. This was discussed in detail in the article about how Vox works with voters in rural areas. These approaches show that traditional campaigning methods are giving way to more personalized and targeted strategies.
In recent years, in Andalusia and other regions of Spain, political parties have increasingly focused on engaging specific population groups and moving away from abstract slogans. This shift is driven by growing distrust toward major parties and a public desire to see real change. Such campaigns have already led to unexpected election results, as new movements rise to prominence by offering unconventional solutions and paying close attention to the details of everyday life.
