Party president Oriol Junqueras has confirmed that Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) will put Gabriel Rufián at the top of its list for Spain’s general election on 29 November 2026. In an interview with Catalunya Ràdio, Junqueras said ERC would stand under its own name and Rufián would head its list for the Congress of Deputies. Rufián is ERC’s spokesperson in the chamber and its lead candidate for the Barcelona constituency.
The party’s National Council approved its general-election candidacies on 20 October, formally ratifying Rufián as the lead candidate in Barcelona. The provincial lists are headed by Teresa Jordà in Girona, Inés Granollers in Lleida and Norma Pujol in Tarragona. Junqueras is 31st on the Barcelona list, while former Catalan minister Raül Romeva is the first substitute.
ERC’s candidate-selection process also reflects its internal structures. Candidate lists emerge from territorial assemblies and are put to a vote by party members, rather than being controlled solely by the lead candidate. Rufián had sought a team of trusted associates for the campaign, but the approved Barcelona slate includes Laura Pelay in fourth place.
The candidacy follows a public disagreement over Rufián’s proposal for a broader progressive alliance to prevent gains by the right and far right. He later acknowledged that efforts to unite alternative left-wing forces had failed and criticized Junqueras for ERC’s refusal to pursue that strategy. Despite the dispute, Rufián remained the party’s candidate. ERC secretary-general Elisenda Alamany defended the decision, calling him “the best possible candidate” and describing the party’s project as the best possible one.
ERC’s electoral strategy has also involved coordination with Podemos in Catalonia. Under the reported arrangement, Podemos would not field its own candidates there, while ERC would include independent candidates on its lists. Talks over coordination took place alongside the dispute about a broader left-wing front and the strength and structure of the progressive bloc.
Junqueras also commented on Spain’s recent football triumph in the World Cup final, noting the impressive contribution of FC Barcelona players such as Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Pau Cubarsí and Dani Olmo. He said the victory demonstrated the club’s ongoing influence, comparing it with Argentina’s past successes with Lionel Messi, but emphasizing that “the future won over history” this time.
ERC’s decision to reaffirm Rufián’s candidacy comes amid broader questions about party leadership across Spain. Recent scrutiny of PSOE figures, for example, has sparked debate about internal dynamics and electoral lists, as seen in the case of Santos Cerdán and Ábalos within the PSOE leadership. These developments reflect ongoing shifts in Spain’s political field as parties prepare for the next national vote.
Founded in 1931, ERC has long played a central role in Catalan and Spanish politics, advocating for Catalan independence and progressive policies. Rufián, the party’s spokesperson in Congress since 2016, is known for his outspoken style and efforts to build bridges with other left-wing forces. His confirmation as lead candidate signals continuity in ERC’s campaign leadership, while the internally approved lists and debate over alliances show the limits of his influence over candidate selection and electoral strategy.
