Gabriel Rufián champions plurinational left front and stricter immigration stance in Spain

In July 2026, Gabriel Rufián, ERC spokesperson in the Spanish Congress, unveiled a proposal for a plurinational, left‑wing electoral front ahead of the next general election. He argued that fragmentation of the left benefits the PP and Vox, saying “Si no nos ponemos de acuerdo, nos matarán por separado.” The initiative failed to attract major allies; only Podemos showed limited openness, while ERC’s Catalan, Basque and Galician partners, as well as the Barcelona municipal party of Ada Colau, rejected it. Nonetheless, the proposal boosted Rufián’s visibility, raising his personal poll rating to 5.8 % in March 2026, up from negligible levels.

At the same time, Rufián called for a “solid and clear” immigration policy, insisting that “quien la hace, la paga, te llames Javier o te llames Brahim.” He criticised Spain’s right‑wing parties, labeling them “the worst right‑wing in Europe,” and urged the left to adopt a tougher stance to counter the narratives of PP, Vox, Junts and the Catalan alliance. His statements aim to reshape the left’s discourse on migration and security ahead of the upcoming elections.