Unidas Podemos

While campaigning for the 2015 Spanish general election, the United Left (IU) promoted the creation of, and later joined, the Now in Common (Ahora en Común, AeC) platform, seeking a wide alliance with other left-wing parties.{{cite news|title=Podemos, IU, Equo and municipal candidacies' members join a citizen platform for the confluence ahead of the general election|language=es|url=http://www.eldiario.es/politica/Cargos-Podemos-IU-candidaturas-municipalistas_0_407010358.html|newspaper=eldiario.es |date=2015-07-08}} After Podemos rejected invitations to join to what some members of this party called an "acronym soup", heightened after the failure of Catalunya Sí que es Pot in the 2015 Catalan election,{{cite news|title=Podemos' sectors close the door to the confluence with IU after the 27-S failure|language=es|url=http://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/cataluna/elecciones-catalanas/2015-09-29/sectores-de-podemos-cierran-la-puerta-a-la-confluencia-con-iu-tras-el-fracaso-del-27s_1040858/|newspaper=eldiario.es |date=2015-09-29}} the AeC platform gradually lost momentum: its founding members left the project and the brand name was lost. Eventually, the platform turned into the Popular Unity (IU-UPeC) electoral coalition without having fulfilled its initial aspirations.{{cite news|title=Now in Common changes its name to Popular Unity|language=es|url=http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2015/10/22/actualidad/1445502502_931710.html|newspaper=El País |date=2015-10-22}}

From 20 April 2016, Podemos and Popular Unity were reported to be in negotiations to form a joint electoral list for upcoming general election aimed at relegating the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) into third place.{{cite news|title=Podemos and IU finalize a pact to concur together if there is a new election|language=es|url=http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/politica/podemos-acepta-con-26-j-5070990|newspaper=El Periódico|date=2016-04-20}}{{cite news|title=Podemos and IU advance towards a pact to overcome the PSOE on 26-J|language=es|url=http://www.larazon.es/espana/podemos-acepta-un-pacto-nacional-con-iu-para-ir-juntos-a-las-elecciones-PC12459655|newspaper=La Razón |date=2016-04-24}} Leaders from both parties denied that any agreement had been reached, and stated that they "would not do anything until it [the new election] was sure", but confirmed that unofficial talks had begun.{{cite news|title=Podemos opens itself to negotiate a statewide agreement with IU|language=es |url=http://www.eldiario.es/politica/Podemos-negociar-IU-repeticion-electoral_0_507450311.html|newspaper=eldiario.es|date=2016-04-20}} More than one hundred intellectuals and artists, including El Gran Wyoming, Antonia San Juan, Carlos Bardem, Fernando Tejero, and Luis Tosar, signed a manifesto calling for Podemos, IU and their regional alliances to join forces for the coming election.{{cite news|title=José Sacristán, Coque Malla, Mario Gas and other artists demand IU and Podemos to join for the next election |language=es |url=http://www.elmundo.es/espana/2016/04/25/571e0b4f22601d124e8b45ba.html |newspaper=El Mundo |date=2016-04-25}} On the other hand, some member parties of IU such as Open Left, led by former IU leader, Gaspar Llamazares, were opposed to the alliance from the beginning.{{cite news |title=Llamazares votará 'no' al pacto de IU y Podemos: 'El diablo está en los detalles'|trans-title=Llamazares will vote 'No' to the IU and Podemos pact: 'The Devil is within the details' |language=es |url=http://noticias.lainformacion.com/politica/partidos/Llamazares-IU-Podemos-advierte-detalles_0_915210108.html |publisher=lainformacion.com |date=2016-05-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619105706/http://noticias.lainformacion.com/politica/partidos/Llamazares-IU-Podemos-advierte-detalles_0_915210108.html |archive-date=2016-06-19 }}

Among the supporters of such an alliance was one Podemos' founders, Juan Carlos Monedero—who proposed that both parties should come together under the name "Podemos En Común" (Spanish for We Can In Common).{{cite news|title=Monedero insists on the Podemos En Común formula and believes Garzón will not have IU's identity prevail over what people ask|language=es|url=http://www.eldiario.es/politica/Monedero-Podemos-Comun-Garzon-IU_0_507799790.html|newspaper=eldiario.es |date=2016-04-21}} Mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau, also voiced her support for such a pact stating "I would see as positive that it could be put together, always with respect",{{cite news|title=Colau pushes Podemos to run in coalition with United Left|language=es|url=http://www.elmundo.es/espana/2016/04/12/570bfffeca474154158b4614.html|newspaper=El Mundo |date=2016-04-12}} her En Comú Podem regional alliance having already seen both parties working together in Catalonia. Valencian Vice President Mònica Oltra had also commented that she would see a Podemos–IU alliance as "good", so as to "make every vote count" and for "six million votes having a correct translation in deputies", in reference to the Spanish electoral system panning IU in the 2015 election.{{cite news|title=Oltra, supportive of the confluence between Podemos and IU to "make every vote count"|language=es|url=http://www.europapress.es/comunitat-valenciana/noticia-oltra-partidaria-confluencia-podemos-iu-hacer-valer-cada-voto-20160421134638.html|publisher=Europa Press |date=2016-04-12}}

File:Alberto Garzón y Pablo Iglesias 2016 (cropped).jpg]]

By 30 April 2016, both Podemos and IU acknowledged that formal coalition talks had started and that, despite differences over the coalition name and the composition of party lists, with discussions continuing throughout the following week.{{cite news|title=Podemos and IU acknowledge that they have differences over "important points" but commit to keep talking |language=es |url=http://www.eldiario.es/politica/Podemos-IU-constatan-importantes-dificultan_0_510600008.html |newspaper=eldiario.es |date=2016-04-30}} Concurrently, IU submitted its plan for an alliance with Podemos to a membership vote held on 2–4 May,{{cite news|title=IU's question to its membership: "Do you approve of an electoral coalition with Podemos other forces?" |language=es |url=http://www.eldiario.es/politica/IU-Apruebas-coalicion-electoral-Podemos_0_510599324.html |newspaper=eldiario.es |date=2016-04-29}} which received 85% of the vote in favour.{{cite news|title=IU membership approves an electoral coalition with Podemos |language=es |url=http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2016/05/05/actualidad/1462432115_095421.html |newspaper=El País |date=2016-05-05}} Despite the ongoing negotiations on 4 May,{{cite news|title=Podemos and IU start working in a joint manifesto |language=es |url=http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2016/05/03/actualidad/1462261447_555481.html |newspaper=El País |date=2016-05-04}}{{cite news|title=Podemos and IU negotiate against time a left pact for 26-J |language=es |url=http://www.elmundo.es/espana/2016/05/03/5729048646163fcb778b45f0.html |newspaper=El Mundo |date=2016-05-04}} Podemos and IU leaders took the coalition between both of their parties for granted, setting the People's Party (PP) as their main electoral rival and seeking to marginalise the PSOE.{{cite news|title=Garzón says the alliance between Podemos and IU could fight for top on 26-J |language=es |url=http://www.publico.es/politica/garzon-augura-alianza-e-izquierda.html |newspaper=Público |date=2016-05-04}} It was reported that both parties intended to formally announce their alliance during the 5th anniversary of the 15-M Movement.{{cite news|title=Podemos and IU will formalize their alliance on 15-M during a first campaign rally |language=es |url=http://www.larazon.es/espana/podemos-e-iu-empiezan-ya-trabajan-en-un-programa-comun-de-minimos-PC12549789 |newspaper=La Razón |date=2016-05-04}}

On 9 May 2016, Pablo Iglesias Turrión of Podemos and Alberto Garzón of IU officially announced an alliance between their respective parties,{{cite news|title=Podemos and IU seal alliance to run together in the election |language=es |url=http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2016/05/09/actualidad/1462786575_146820.html |newspaper=El País |date=2016-05-09}}{{cite news|title=Podemos and IU reach accord to concur together in the 26-J election |language=es |url=http://www.eldiario.es/politica/Podemos-IU-cierran-acuerdo-elecciones_0_514098713.html |newspaper=eldiario.es |date=2016-05-09}} with both leaders symbolically sealing their pact through an embrace at Puerta del Sol in Madrid, landmark of the 15-M movement.{{cite news|title=Iglesias and Garzón announce their pact through a hug at Puerta del Sol, landmark of the 15-M |language=es |url=https://es.noticias.yahoo.com/iglesias-garzón-anuncian-pacto-abrazo-sol-símbolo-15m-185220847.html |publisher=Yahoo Noticias |date=2016-05-09}} The pact guaranteed that 1/6 of the candidates obtained by the coalition—as planned and without including the regional coalitions En Comú Podem, En Marea and És el moment—were to be awarded to IU candidates. In addition, the distinct identity of each party was to be preserved. Podemos, IU and Equo put the alliance up to votes from their respective memberships on 10–11 May, all of which overwhelmingly supported the pact.{{cite news|title=IU will ask its membership again on the alliance with Podemos |language=es |url=http://www.eldiario.es/politica/IU-consultar-acuerdo-cerrado-Podemos_0_513398955.html |newspaper=eldiario.es |date=2016-05-07}}{{cite news |url=http://partidoequo.es/equo-concurrira-las-elecciones-del-26j-en-coalicion-con-podemos-e-izquierda-unida |title=Equo will contest the 26-J election in coalition with Podemos and United Left |language=es |author=Equo |date=2016-05-10 |access-date=2016-05-16}}

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On 13 May 2016, it was announced that the alliance would be named Unidos Podemos, Spanish for United We Can.

Discussions between Podemos and Més per Mallorca (Més) started in the Balearic Islands by late April ahead of a prospective electoral alliance, aiming at forming a "grand coalition of the left" in the islands.{{cite news|title=Més "welcomes" Podemos to form a grand coalition of the left |language=es |url=http://www.diariodemallorca.es/mallorca/2016/04/27/mes-da-bienvenida-formar-gran/1112805.html |publisher=Diario de Mallorca |date=2016-04-27}} Despite initial disagreements over Més's place in the Congress lists, both parties finally reached an agreement on 13 May 2016 to run together in the Balearics under the "Units Podem Més" label (Catalan for United We Can More).{{cite news|title=Podemos and Més agree. List's number 3 will be for Més |language=es |url=http://www.ciutat.es/portada/politica/item/25330-podemos-y-mes-pactan-el-numero-3-de-la-lista-sera-para-mes |publisher=ciutat.es |date=2016-05-13}}{{cite news|title=Més Assembly accepts running with Podemos in the election |language=es |url=http://www.diariodemallorca.es/mallorca/2016/05/13/asamblea-mes-acepta-elecciones/1117460.html |publisher=Diario de Mallorca |date=2016-05-13}}

Earlier on 11 May 2016, Navarrese party Batzarre—from 2011 within the Izquierda-Ezkerra alliance with IU in Navarre—had voted for joining the Podemos–IU alliance.{{cite news|title=94% of Batzarre membership supports joining Podemos and IUN |language=es |url=http://www.navarra.com/articulo/politica/94-bases-batzarre-ratifican-ir-listas-podemos-iun/20160511123943040971.html |publisher=Navarra.com |date=2016-05-11}} That same day, For a Fairer World (Por un Mundo más Justo, PUM+J), which had previously participated in left-wing alliances such as Ahora Madrid, had announced its intention to join the alliance with 61% of its members favouring the pact.{{cite news|title=The For a Fairer World party joins the Podemos–IU alliance |language=es |url=http://www.eldiario.es/politica/Mundo-Justo-coalicion-Podemos-IU_0_514799545.html |newspaper=eldiario.es |date=2016-05-11}} Also joining the alliance was Zaragoza in Common (ZEC), the municipal alliance created for the 2015 municipal election in the city of Zaragoza and which went on to win the city's government.{{cite news|title=Zaragoza in Common ratifies joining the coalition between Podemos and United Left |language=es |url=http://www.heraldo.es/noticias/aragon/zaragoza-provincia/zaragoza/2016/05/12/zaragoza-comun-ratifica-sumarse-coalicion-entre-podemos-izquierda-unida-852693-301.html |publisher=Heraldo |date=2016-05-12}}

The results of the alliance between Podemos and IU were "highly disappointing" as Pablo Iglesias said the electoral night, however, the alliance itself was called 'the right path'. Unidos Podemos got 71 seats, the same as in December, losing near 1.1 million votes.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}

In the April 2019 Spanish general election, the party lost 29 seats and fell to the 4th place in the Congress of Deputies, below Ciudadanos. In the November 2019 Spanish general election, the party lost 7 more seats, falling in 4th place, this time below Vox. It entered a coalition government with the PSOE.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

On 26 May 2018, Podemos announced that the name of the coalition for the 2019 European Parliament election in Spain would be Unidas Podemos cambiar Europa ("United We Can Change Europe").{{cite news |url=https://politica.elpais.com/politica/2018/05/26/actualidad/1527357843_525975.html |title=Unidas Podemos cambiar Europa, el nombre para las europeas de la candidatura del partido de Iglesias |work=El País |language=es |date=26 May 2018 |access-date=26 May 2018|last1=Marcos |first1=José }}

The alliance is mostly dominated by the left-wing Podemos, but there are also further left factions, mostly arising from the United Left (IU) political coalition. Podemos is the only mainstream party that seriously questions the role of the monarchy and the Spanish constitution as it stands. The founder and former leader of Podemos, Pablo Iglesias Turrión, wants Catalonia to continue as part of Spain, but says his party would respect the will of the 80% of Catalans who want a referendum according to polls. The party has called for the release of jailed Catalan leaders on trial in Spain's Supreme Court.{{Cite web|last=ACN|first=Newsdesk /|date=2019-04-26|title=General Election focus: the Podemos party|url=https://www.spainenglish.com/2019/04/26/general-election-focus-podemos/|access-date=2021-10-25|website=Spain in English|language=en-GB}} It is a coalition of other leftist parties, but the Communist Party of Spain (PCE) is the only member party that still runs at the national level.{{Cite web|title=ICPS|url=https://www.icps.cat/archivos/WorkingPapers/wp209.pdf|access-date=2021-10-25|website=www.icps.cat|language=ca}}

Podemos presented a collaboratively written program for the 2014 European Parliament election in Spain. Some of the most important policies were emphasis on public control, poverty reduction, and social dignity via a basic income for everyone, including lobbying controls and punitive measures against tax avoidance by large corporations and multi-national organizations, as well as promotion of smaller enterprises. It also included revoking or curtailing the Treaty of Lisbon, abandoning the memorandum of understanding, withdrawing from some free-trade area agreements, and promoting referendum on any major constitutional reform. On environmentalism, it advocated reduction of fossil fuel consumption, promotion of public transport and renewable energy initiatives, reduction of industrial cash crop agriculture, and stimulating local food production by small and medium enterprises.{{cite web|date=May 2014|title=Documento final del programa colaborativo|trans-title=Final Document of the Collaborative Programme|url=http://podemos.info/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Programa-Podemos.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527140956/http://podemos.info/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Programa-Podemos.pdf|archive-date=27 May 2014|access-date=25 October 2021|website=Podemos|language=es}} The PCE is the main member of the United Left. In its statutes, the PCE defines its goals as "democratically participate in a revolutionary transformation of society and its political structures, overcoming the capitalist system and constructing socialism in the Spanish State, as a contribution to the transition to socialism worldwide, with our goals set in the realization of the emancipating ideal of communism".{{cite web|date=30 January 2014|title=Estatutos del Partido Comunista de España|publisher=Communist Party of Spain|page=1|url=http://www.pce.es/descarga/20131115_17_docpce_xix_cong_estatutos_def.pdf|language=es|access-date=16 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428105145/http://www.pce.es/descarga/20131115_17_docpce_xix_cong_estatutos_def.pdf|archive-date=28 April 2017|url-status=dead}}

In 2021, Unidas Podemos supported a motion by Más País to legalise the recreational use of cannabis in Spain.{{cite news |date= 29 April 2022 |title= What's the law on cannabis in Spain? |url= https://www.thelocal.es/20220429/whats-the-law-on-cannabis-in-spain/ |work= The Local (Spain edition) |access-date= 8 September 2022}}

File:Logo de Unidas Podemos (2023).svg|Official logo, 2023–present

File:Unidas Podemos Cambiar Europa (wordmark).svg|Campaign logo, 2019 European Parliament election

File:Logo Unidas Podemos.svg|Official logo, 2019–2023

File:Logo Unidas Podemos 2019b.png|Campaign logo, 2019 general elections

File:Unidas Podemos (B-N) - Noviembre 2019.svg|Ballot logo, November 2019 general election

File:Unidas Podemos (B-N) - Abril 2019.svg|Ballot logo, April 2019 general election

File:Logo Unidos Podemos.svg|Official logo, 2016–2019

File:Unidos Podemos.svg|Electoral logo, 2016 general election

File:Unidos Podemos (B-N).svg|Ballot logo, 2016 general election

File:Isotipo Unidos Podemos.svg|Campaign logo, 2016 general election

{{Commons category}}

• 2015–2016 Spanish government formation
• Opinion polling for the 2016 Spanish general election
• Opinion polling for the next Spanish general election

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Podemos (Spanish political party)}}

{{Spanish political parties}}

{{United Left (Spain)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Unidos Podemos}}

Category:2016 establishments in Spain

Category:2023 disestablishments in Spain

Category:Left-wing politics in Spain

Category:Podemos (Spanish political party)

Category:Political parties established in 2016

Category:United Left (Spain)