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United Left (Spain)
Spanish political party
Spanish political party
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| country | Spain |
| name | United Left |
| native_name | Izquierda Unida |
| colorcode | |
| logo | Logo Izquierda Unida, versión bocadillo.svg |
| leader1_title | General Coordinator |
| leader1_name | Antonio Maíllo |
| foundation | April 1986 (as coalition) |
| 2 November 1992 (as party federation) | |
| membership_year | 2023 |
| membership | 18,000 |
| ideology | Communism |
| Socialism | |
| position | Left-wing to far-left |
| youth_wing | Área de Juventud de Izquierda Unida |
| wing3_title | LGBT wing |
| wing3 | ALEAS |
| seats1_title | Congress of Deputies |
| seats1 | |
| seats2_title | Spanish Senate |
| seats2 | |
| seats3_title | European Parliament |
| seats3 | |
| seats4_title | Regional Parliaments |
| seats4 | |
| seats5_title | Local Government |
| seats5 | |
| national | The Left (2009–2014) |
| Plural Left (2011–2015) | |
| Plural Left (2014–2019) | |
| Popular Unity (2015–2016) | |
| Unidas Podemos (2016–2023) | |
| Sumar (since 2023) | |
| european | Party of the European Left |
| colours | Red |
| website | |
| international | IMCWP |
2 November 1992 (as party federation) Socialism Plural Left (2011–2015) Plural Left (2014–2019) Popular Unity (2015–2016) Unidas Podemos (2016–2023) Sumar (since 2023) United Left ( , IU) is a federative political movement in Spain that was first organized as a coalition in 1986, bringing together several left-wing political organizations, grouped primarily around the Communist Party of Spain.
IU was founded as an electoral coalition of seven parties, but the Communist Party of Spain (PCE) is the only remaining integrated member of the IU at the national level. Despite that, IU brings together other regional parties, political organizations, and independents. It currently takes the form of a permanent federation of parties.
IU took part in the Unidas Podemos coalition and the corresponding parliamentary group in the Congreso de los Diputados between 2016 and 2023. Since January 2020, it participated for the first time in a national coalition government, with one minister. For the 2023 general election, IU took part in the Sumar platform.
History
Following the electoral failure of the PCE in the 1982 general election (going from 10% to 4% of the votes), PCE leaders believed that the PCE alone could no longer effectively challenge the electoral hegemony of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) on the left. With this premise, the PCE began developing closer relations with other left-wing groups, with the vision of forming a broad left coalition. IU slowly improved its results, reaching 9% in 1989 (1,800,000 votes) and nearly 11% in 1996 (2,600,000 votes). The founding organizations were: Communist Party of Spain, Progressive Federation, Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain, PASOC, Carlist Party, Humanist Party, Unitarian Candidacy of Workers, and Republican Left.
In contrast to the PCE prior to the formation of IU, which pursued a more moderate political course, the new IU adopted a more radical strategy and ideology of confrontation against the PSOE. IU generally opposed cooperating with the PSOE, and identified it as a "right-wing party", no different from the People's Party (PP).
After achieving poor results in the 1999 local and European elections, IU decided to adopt a more conciliatory attitude towards the PSOE, and agreed to sign an electoral pact with the PSOE for the upcoming general election in 2000. They also adopted a universal policy in favor of cooperating with the PSOE at the local level.
IU currently has around 18,000 members, a decrease from 70,000 in 2012.
Organization
Composition
| Party | Notes | Former members | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communist Party of Spain}}" | Communist Party of Spain (PCE) | ||
| Revolutionary Workers' Party (Spain)}}" | La Aurora Marxist Organization (La Aurora (OM)) | Not a political party. Joined in 1998 | |
| Republican Left (Spain, 1977)}}" | Republican Left (IR) | Left in 2002, rejoined in 2011 | |
| Unitarian Candidacy of Workers}}" | Unitarian Candidacy of Workers (CUT) | Left in 2015, rejoined in 2018 | |
| Feminist Party of Spain}}" | Feminist Party of Spain (PFE) | Joined in October 2015, expelled in February 2020 due to its stances on transgender rights. | |
| Humanist Party (Spain)}} | Humanist Party (PH) | April–July 1986 | |
| Carlist Party (1970)}}" | Carlist Party (PC) | Expelled in 1987 | |
| Progressive Federation}}" | Progressive Federation (FP) | Left in December 1987, due to being dissolved. | |
| Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain}}" | Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) | Left in 1988 | |
| Socialist Action Party (Spain)}}" | Socialist Action Party (PASOC) | Dissolved in 2001. | |
| Red Current}}" | Red Current (CR) | Joined in 2002, left in 2004 | |
| Anti-capitalists}}" | Anti-capitalists (IA) | Joined in 1995, left in 2008 | |
| Coalition for Melilla}}" | Coalition for Melilla (CpM) | Joined in 2008, left in 2013 | |
| Open Left}}" | Open Left (IzAb) | Joined in 2012, dissolved in 2018. |
Federal coordinators
| Name | Period |
|---|---|
| Gerardo Iglesias | 1986-1989 |
| Julio Anguita | 1989–1999 |
| Francisco Frutos | 1999–2001 |
| Gaspar Llamazares | 2001–2008 |
| Cayo Lara | 2008–2016 |
| Alberto Garzón | 2016–2023 |
| Antonio Maíllo | 2024–present |
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Territorial federations
- Andalusia: Izquierda Unida Los Verdes - Convocatoría por Andalucía (United Left/The Greens - Assembly for Andalusia)
- Aragon: Izquierda Unida Aragón (United Left of Aragon)
- Asturias: Izquierda Xunida de Asturies (United Left of Asturias)
- Balearic Islands: Esquerra Unida de les Illes Balears (United Left of the Balearic Islands)
- Canary Islands: Izquierda Unida Canaria (Canarian United Left)
- Cantabria: Izquierda Unida de Cantabria (Cantabrian United Left)
- Castilla-La Mancha: Izquierda Unida de Castilla-La Mancha (United Left of Castilla-La Mancha)
- Catalonia: Esquerra Unida Catalunya (United Left Catalonia, Founded in July 2019; suspended in June 2019 Esquerra Unida i Alternativa)
- Castilla y León: Izquierda Unida de Castilla y León (United Left of Castile and León)
- Ceuta: Izquierda Unida de Ceuta (United Left of Ceuta)
- Euskadi: Izquierda Unida - Los Verdes: Ezker Anitza (United Left - The Greens: Plural Left)
- Extremadura: Izquierda Unida Extremadura (United Left Extremadura)
- Galicia: Esquerda Unida (United Left of Galicia)
- La Rioja: Izquierda Unida La Rioja (United Left-La Rioja)
- Madrid: Izquierda Unida-Madrid (United Left-Madrid). Izquierda Unida de la Comunidad de Madrid (United Left of the Community of Madrid) was expelled in 2015. The new federation, IU-M, was created in 2016.
- Melilla: Izquierda Unida - Federación de Melilla (United Left - Melilla Federation)
- Murcia: Izquierda Unida-Verdes de la Región de Murcia (United Left - Greens of the Region of Murcia)
- Navarra: Izquierda Unida de Navarra - Nafarroako Ezker Batua (United Left of Navarra)
- Valencian Community: Esquerra Unida del País Valencià (United Left of the Valencian Country)
Electoral performance
Cortes Generales
| Election | Leading candidate | Congress | Senate | Gov. | Votes | % | # | Seats | +/– | Seats | +/– | 1986 | 1989 | 1993 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2011 | 2015 | 2016 | Apr-2019 | Nov-2019 | 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerardo Iglesias | 935,504 | 4.6 | 5th | [[File:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg | 10px]]3 | [[File:Arrow Blue Right 001.svg | 10px]]0 | Opposition | ||||||||||||||||||
| Julio Anguita | 1,858,588 | 9.1 | 3rd | [[File:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg | 10px]]10 | [[File:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg | 10px]]1 | Opposition | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2,253,722 | 9.6 | 3rd | [[File:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg | 10px]]1 | [[File:Red Arrow Down.svg | 10px]]1 | Opposition | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2,639,774 | 10.5 | 3rd | [[File:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg | 10px]]3 | [[File:Arrow Blue Right 001.svg | 10px]]0 | Opposition | |||||||||||||||||||
| Francisco Frutos | 1,263,043 | 5.4 | 4th | [[File:Red Arrow Down.svg | 10px]]13 | [[File:Arrow Blue Right 001.svg | 10px]]0 | Opposition | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gaspar Llamazares | 1,284,081 | 5.0 | 6th | [[File:Red Arrow Down.svg | 10px]]3 | [[File:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg | 10px]]1 | Confidence and supply | ||||||||||||||||||
| 969,946 | 3.8 | 6th | [[File:Red Arrow Down.svg | 10px]]3 | [[File:Arrow Blue Right 001.svg | 10px]]0 | Opposition | |||||||||||||||||||
| Cayo Lara | with Plural Left | [[File:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg | 10px]]5 | [[File:Red Arrow Down.svg | 10px]]1 | Opposition | ||||||||||||||||||||
| with Popular Unity | [[File:Red Arrow Down.svg | 10px]]5 | [[File:Arrow Blue Right 001.svg | 10px]]0 | New election | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Alberto Garzón | with Unidos Podemos | [[File:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg | 10px]]6 | [[File:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg | 10px]]2 | Opposition (2016–18) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Confidence and supply (2018–19) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| with Unidas Podemos | [[File:Red Arrow Down.svg | 10px]]3 | [[File:Red Arrow Down.svg | 10px]]2 | New election | |||||||||||||||||||||
| with Unidas Podemos | [[File:Arrow Blue Right 001.svg | 10px]]0 | [[File:Arrow Blue Right 001.svg | 10px]]0 | Coalition (PSOE–UP) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Alberto Garzón | with Sumar | [[File:Arrow Blue Right 001.svg | 10px]]0 | [[File:Arrow Blue Right 001.svg | 10px]]0 | Coalition (PSOE–Sumar) |
European Parliament
| Election | Leading candidate | Votes | % | # | Seats | +/– | EP Group | 1987 | 1989 | 1994 | 1999 | 2004 | 2009 | 2014 | 2019 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fernando Pérez Royo | 1,011,830 | 5.3 | 4th | — | COM | ||||||||||||
| 961,742 | 6.1 | 4th | [[File:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg | 10px]]1 | COM (EUL) | ||||||||||||
| Alonso Puerta | 2,497,671 | 13.4 | 3rd | [[File:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg | 10px]]5 | EUL | |||||||||||
| 1,221,566 | 5.8 | 3rd | [[File:Red Arrow Down.svg | 10px]]5 | GUE/NGL | ||||||||||||
| Willy Meyer | 643,136 | 4.1 | 4th | [[File:Red Arrow Down.svg | 10px]]2 | ||||||||||||
| with The Left | [[File:Arrow Blue Right 001.svg | 10px]]0 | |||||||||||||||
| with Plural Left | [[File:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg | 10px]]2 | |||||||||||||||
| Sira Rego | with UPCE | [[File:Red Arrow Down.svg | 10px]]2 | ||||||||||||||
| Manu Pineda | with Sumar | [[File:Red Arrow Down.svg | 10px]]2 | — |
Notes
References
References
- Fernández, Por David. (November 27, 2023). "La hegemonía de la izquierda también se mide en cifras: Sumar alcanza los 70.000 inscritos, en Podemos votan 55.000 e IU tiene 18.000 afiliados".
- Nordsieck, Wolfram. (2019). "Spain".
- (1 January 2014). "European Social Survey 2012 - Appendix 3 (in English)". [[European Science Foundation]].
- (25 May 2015). "Spanish voters wake up to new political landscape". openDemocracy.
- (25 November 2009). "Democratic defender". POLITICO.
- (25 May 2014). "Européennes : poussée du parti d'extrême gauche Izquierda Unida en Espagne".
- (10 May 2016). "Espagne : Podemos s'allie avec l'extrême gauche pour les législatives".
- (2002). "Electoral incentives and organizational limits. The evolution of the Communist Party of Spain (PCE) and the United Left (IU) (in English)". Institute of Political and Social Sciences.
- RTVE.es. (2023-06-09). "IU alcanza un acuerdo con Sumar para concurrir juntos a las elecciones".
- Topaloff, L (2012) Political Parties and Euroscepticism, pp192-193
- [http://www.aecpa.es/uploads/files/recp/02/textos/08.pdf Entre coalición y partido, la evolución de modelo organizativo en IU, Luis Ramiro] {{webarchive. link. (March 26, 2012)
- Following the tradition of the Spanish left since the formation of the [[Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia]] (PSUC) in 1936 (when communists and socialists joined forces in Catalunya), IU doesn't have any organization of its own in [[Catalonia]]. Until 1998, the referent of IU in [[Catalonia]] was [[Initiative for Catalonia]] (''Iniciativa per Catalunya'', now known as IC-V). But IC eventually broke relations with IU. A split in PSUC followed, and a new Catalan alliance, [[United and Alternative Left]] (''Esquerra Unida i Alternativa'', EUiA), was formed as the new Catalan referent of IU.
- [http://www.eldiario.es/politica/direccion-IU-desvincular-federacion-madrilena_0_398610178.html IU rompe "a todos los efectos" con su federación madrileña.] El Diario, 14/06/2015 - 10:48h. Aitor Rivero.
- [http://www.publico.es/politica/militancia-iu-madrid-elige-mauricio.html La militancia de IU Madrid elige a Mauricio Valiente y Chus Alonso al frente de la nueva formación.] [[Público (Spain). Público]], 03/05/2016.
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