Irene Montero has announced her bid to lead Spain's left in the next general election, calling for open primaries that include all citizens, not just party members. Her move comes as progressive parties face internal divisions and uncertainty.
Irene Montero has put herself forward as a candidate for prime minister, urging Spain’s left to hold open primaries that anyone—not just Podemos members—can join. She made her announcement at a crowded event in Madrid, aiming to break the current political deadlock and inject new energy into a left weakened by infighting and falling poll numbers. According to Demócrata and agency reports, Montero wants the primary process to be open to all citizens, not just party affiliates, which would be a major change from the usual way candidates are chosen.
Her announcement comes as the main left-wing coalition partners—Sumar, IU, Más Madrid, Comuns, and Movimiento Sumar—have yet to agree on a leader or even a shared electoral brand for the 2027 general elections. With parties still focused on regional contests and no clear plan for national coordination, Montero’s call for open primaries highlights the lack of direction among Spain’s progressive parties. Agency coverage notes that there is no final agreement on which coalition or electoral brand Montero would represent, reflecting ongoing talks and uncertainty on the left.
Podemos has already launched its internal primary process for regional and municipal elections in 2027, but the timeline for national primaries remains unannounced.
“I want to be your candidate, but not at any price,” Montero told supporters. She insisted the process must be open to everyone, not just party insiders, and that anyone should be able to participate or stand as a candidate. Her campaign, under the slogan “Paz, casa, trabajo,” focuses on regulating housing prices, reducing working hours, redistributing profits, anti-war policies, and addressing the climate emergency. These priorities have been confirmed as the core of her platform by several external publications.
Recent polling shows the left is struggling. The latest 40dB. survey for EL PAÍS and Cadena SER puts the combined left-wing parties 3.8 points lower than in 2023. Podemos, now led by Ione Belarra, is at just 2.8% intention to vote, while Sumar stands at 5.7%. These numbers underline the urgency behind Montero’s push for a new approach and the risk of further splits if no agreement is reached. Several agencies report that Podemos leadership has already publicly backed Montero as a possible prime ministerial candidate, suggesting her move is part of a wider party strategy.
While Montero wants to open up the process, the rest of the left remains divided. No deals have been made with regional partners like Compromís, Chunta, or Més, who are focused on local and regional elections. Without a unified strategy or even a shared electoral label, the left is exposed—especially as the far right continues to gain ground in national politics, as seen in recent coverage of Catalonia’s political climate.
According to internal Podemos schedules, regional and municipal primaries follow a strict calendar: pre-registration began on September 7, with applications and support collection in mid-month, voting set for October 5–11, and results announced on October 13. However, a separate national calendar has not yet been established.
Montero’s campaign event included speakers from social movements, such as trans rights activist Mar Cambrollé and Podemos’s secretary for antiracism, Serigne Mbayé, showing her intent to build a broader coalition beyond the party’s usual base. The message: the left cannot afford to stay divided or closed off if it wants to regain ground and challenge the right’s rise.
Montero’s push for open primaries is both a criticism of the current system and a test of whether Spain’s left can adapt before the next general election. Her move highlights the lack of coordination among progressive parties and forces a public debate over leadership and strategy. If the left misses this chance to regroup, it risks losing even more ground to its rivals. Montero’s challenge is a call for unity and transparency, but whether other parties or voters will respond remains to be seen.
