The leader of United LeftAntonio Maíllo defended this Monday the need to create a more “horizontal” space on the left through talks with all parties, including Podemos, after the poor results in the European elections and the resignation of Yolanda Díaz at the head of Sumar. “We didn't do something right,” Maíllo admitted in a powerful reflection in an interview on Cadena Ser, expressing that the personality of the vice president of the government, Yolanda Diaz“conditioned the project.”
The Andalusian leader has appreciated Díaz's role as Labor Minister, saying her resignation is “a reading that honors her” and that “it facilitates the step we now have to take.” The IU leader has celebrated Díaz's ability to “continue to be a great minister” at the helm of Labour. “She is the best Labor Minister we have had in the history of Spain,” said Maíllo, who also praised that “Sumar is a great parliamentary group, part of the government” as an asset to the political space at the left hand side. of the PSOE. Asked whether citizens will understand Díaz remaining as minister after quitting as leader of Sumar, Maíllo warned that not everyone is good for everything in politics and once again praised Díaz's work at the helm of Labour.
For the IU leader, the various parties that make up Sumar must take charge of the project in the new phase that will start after Díaz's departure. He has respected the continuity of Sumar as a party, but has warned that the organization of Sumar projects must change so that decisions are shared and not so personal. “There are things that could be improved, a much more horizontal space and equality between all actors in the project.”
The IU leader has expressed his disappointment with the outcome of the June 9 elections has left them out of the European Parliament.
The head of IU has argued that Díaz's project has received the same members of the European Parliament as the far right, and therefore he believes that “Sumar is surpassed as a unifying project” and that from now on it “must be an alliance of parties ”. in which he asks to speak to everyone, including Podemos and other forces that have not been part of the platform. “We must have an honest debate and reflect all left-wing parties,” said Maíllo, who included the PSOE in that group.
The Andalusian leader has admitted that the left lacked “humility”, that “a new common sense is needed that has been lost” and that its leaders face the challenge of “making it comparable to the people it represents”. If not, “people won't believe it, they won't identify with us.” “We distance ourselves from the people who should support us,” before apologizing to those who stayed home and did not vote on July 9.
The head of the IU has pointed out that the situation of the left at European level is due to several factors, but he has outlined some that he considers applicable to the national framework. Among them, Maíllo has complained that in the current political debate, “the challenging discourse is carried out by the right,” referring to the message against the elites, against the European Union and against the institutions that have taken root among the far right. militants from Vox.
Maíllo has stated that on the left there is a “deception” between “what we say we defend and what we do”, between the image of “student club” and “the pursuit of tolerance”, while “in our space we do the opposite”. He added that the conflicts between different parties “will not be resolved in fifteen days of smiles.” And he has spoken words of gratitude to the candidate for space travel, Estrella Galán, while at the same time hinting that the one who has to explain is the one who appointed her, an undisguised allusion to Yolanda Díaz.
“Politics is about obeying the people, it is not about being happy to have met us,” the IU leader added. When asked about the presence of Podemos in a future left-wing coalition outside Sumar, Maíllo recalled that “the closest thing to something sacred is the will of the people” and that once the vote is cast, “we will have to make political decisions about it.” construct.”