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The failed July negotiation between the PSOE and Unidos Podemos tested the seams of the purple group and the resilience of Pablo Iglesias. He was the only one who relied on the word given by Pedro Sánchez and had discussions with his people until the end, that there would be coalition. "I really believed it," they comment from their surroundings. Four months later, Iglesias has signed a contract with Pedro Sanchez that makes him vice president, in addition to assuring him of ministries and, incidentally, consolidates the leadership of the secretary general of Podemos, after an election in which his group lost seats and deputies again.

Iglesias believed Sanchez closely when he showed his willingness to a coalition government before and after 28-A. He defended the word of the socialist leader until the end, when his people tried to make him see another reality. This caused tensions, discussions and rifirrafes between Iglesias and members of United Podemos. The leader had to stop his own, discuss, fight to impose his vision, his strategy. Then he trusted everything to the word of the socialist leader. He always asked for another minute, convinced that he would have armchairs. He rejected a vice presidency and three ministries convinced that there would be a better offer. Lost.

Now, four months later, he has a signed Government pre-agreement that grants him chairs in the Council of Ministers and powers so that Podemos can demonstrate whether he reaches the useful policy. Expires. And he does it when his leadership could be back in focus after a new electoral setback of his party. There were those who considered going from 42 to 35 deputies a "new failure" and who was already forced to re-establish or, at least, reflect on the future of the party. Even the most critical recognize that Iglesias has doubled the pulse of many, inside and outside the party. Members of the training consulted point out that now it will be difficult for anyone to discuss anything.

However, there are those who still watch weapons. The letter to the militancy of Iglesias, after signing the agreement with the PSOE, and in which he assumes that he will have to "give in many things" has left more than one with the fly behind his ear.

We can Andalusia has already defined it as a "bad start" and maintains its pulse with the national leadership, to continue defending that the ideal is to support the Socialists from outside, but not a co-government.

Iglesias has in his favor that, this time, the PSOE has guaranteed competences in capital matters for Podemos. The purple leader disregarded the July offer - social presidency and the ministries of Housing and Social Economy , Equality and Health - considering them an "empty box", which did not have real powers. This is, as Iglesias defended, that, despite having the Housing portfolio, the regulation of the rental market corresponded to Development or the problem of evictions to Justice. Now, he has transferred to his own that he has the guarantee that the ministries they occupy will be competent to make policy and execute measures.

This agreement, if finalized - PSOE and United We can not add the necessary majority - would strengthen the management of Iglesias, at the time very criticized. His rejection of the vice presidency and the ministries generated controversy of doors outside - threatened to subtract political credit for being the culprit of new elections - but also inward.

Programmatic agreement

United Sectors We can as IU or the commons were more likely to accept and even support a programmatic agreement without being in the Council of Ministers. The hard core of Iglesias presumes that this was rejected for something and that now its leader will have an armchair in the Council of Ministers. Moreover, in this revalidation of governance, the purples have guaranteed that there is no veto. Therefore, Iglesias will be there, but also Irene Montero if he is interested in his leader or the party, or that person they consider.

The government structure is not closed, but everything is outlined, thanks to the work done long ago. The dialogue was initiated by the chiefs of cabinet of Iglesias and Sánchez, Iván Redondo and Pablo Gentili, between the night of election Sunday and Monday morning. Before lunch, the leader of the PSOE telephoned his counterpart to meet in Moncloa about 4 pm . Iglesias wanted to certify before attending if the appointment was to exploit a coalition executive. It was like this. The understanding that could not be in three months was sealed in an hour.

In United We can still have some surprise about that turn from black to white from Sánchez that, of course, did not expect it to be so fast and radical. However, the negotiation adds a new notch in the Iglesias marker. Regretful of not having personally carried out the July negotiation, I didn't want to repeat the mistake. Now the dynamic turned: first the leaders, then the teams. And, in that scenario, Iglesias has secured the vice presidency.

Despite some confusion, as there were wicks, the machinery in United We can get under way. The agreement, since Monday afternoon, was delegated to Irene Montero, who negotiated with Adriana Lastra . As everything took shape - it was sealed shortly before 1pm on Tuesday - Iglesias communicated what was happening to his Catalan and Galician confluences, to IU and his most faithful team. However, only a few elected knew until they began to know the details of the pact.

The idea is that it be a coalition government similar to the one that the PSOE offered in July to Podemos, although it is about to specify the distribution of powers, the allocation of each of them, to determine how many portfolios corresponds to the Iglesias party - would be a minimum of three - and how many to the PSOE, which will be who is in charge of the ministries of state, leaving United We can the most social areas.

PSOE and Podemos will not share portfolios

The negotiation to form a government of PSOE and Unidos Podemos is underway and, according to different sources consulted, the approach is that both formations are not mixed in the ministries. The Socialists now accept what in summer was an insurmountable obstacle, so that the Socialists will give exclusive control of some areas to Podemos. This distribution will be a headache for Pablo Iglesias , since there are many suitors and commitments and few chairs that will have in the next Council of Ministers .

Assuming that Iglesias himself will occupy one of the places - president, probably - names such as those of Pablo Echenique - for research or universities; Rafael Mayoral - housing and socio-labor conflicts; Yolanda Díaz - economic and labor matters; Victoria Rosell - in the judicial field; Héctor Illueca - Treasury profile - or Julio Rodríguez - military field - could be ministers. Irene Montero and Yolanda Díaz stand out in all pools, both for their work and for their feminist profile.

To this is added that Iglesias must take into account in the distribution the weight and importance of their confluences. In Comú Podem is the one who has best withstood 10-N, repeating seven deputies; therefore, they are legitimized to be present in the new Executive, even more so with the Catalan conflict so present. His trick could be his spokesman Jaume Asens , very close to Iglesias, but whom the PSOE has pointed out several times for his sovereign profile.

There is also United Left, great support from Iglesias, especially through the PCE, and with Alberto Garzón who has mortgaged his political future to the coalition. But it happens that Yolanda Díaz, also very close to Iglesias, is also from IU, and that could close the doors to Garzón. Díaz, in addition, would complete the Galician quota. MARISOL HERNÁNDEZ / RAÚL PIÑA

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  • United We Can
  • PSOE
  • IU
  • Irene Montero
  • Pablo Iglesias
  • Pedro Sanchez
  • Rafael Mayoral
  • Alberto Garzón
  • Victoria Rosell
  • Pablo Echenique
  • In Comú Podem

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