Podemos, despite claiming to be a guardian of Spain’s plurinationality, has been shown to have a more Madrid-centric or centralist vision. This was evident in a video mocking the Basque nationalist party PNV that Podemos circulated ahead of the April 21st elections, depicting the nationalists as backward opportunists. The video sparked outrage on social media, with many feeling insulted by Podemos’ portrayal of Basque nationalism. This highlights a paternalistic approach from the Spanish left, which seeks to save Basque voters from themselves. However, Podemos’ true allegiance to plurinationality has come into question, as it seems to prioritize class conflict over territorial issues.
Data reveals that Podemos has predominantly appealed to voters with a Madrid-centric perspective. In a 2016 survey, over half of Podemos voters (56.3%) supported the current autonomous state or a more centralist system, contradicting the party’s professed commitment to plurinationality. The contrast with the voters of En Comú Podem, a Catalonian coalition, was stark, with only 15.9% in favor of maintaining the status quo. This suggests that Podemos’ plurinational stance is largely confined to Catalonia, as evidenced by the absence of its own regional leaders. Podemos aligns more closely with the anti-nationalist views of IU, indicating a disconnect with the plurinational aspirations of the 15M movement.
Despite its rhetoric, Podemos has not actively pursued plurinational policies within the Spanish government. The party did not make a referendum a condition for joining the government and made concessions to secure votes from other parties. Additionally, Podemos failed to advocate for a separate parliamentary group for En Comú Podem, as promised, suggesting a lack of commitment to true plurinationalism. Podemos’ superficial gestures, such as speaking a few phrases in regional languages at rallies, do not translate into meaningful actions toward achieving plurinational goals.
Podemos’ support for peripheral nationalist parties, such as PDeCAT, PNV, and Junts, appears opportunistic and contingent on serving the party’s self-interests. These parties are tolerated in Madrid due to their support for left-wing initiatives, but are castigated as “right-wing” in their home regions, as demonstrated in the contentious video. This selective embrace of plurinationalism based on political expediency undermines the party’s professed ideals and reveals a paternalistic approach to regional politics. Genuine plurinationalism should encompass a broader spectrum of nationalist movements, regardless of their ideological orientation.
Younger voters, disillusioned by Podemos’ centralist tendencies, are increasingly turning to local left-wing alternatives, as seen in election results in Galicia and Euskadi. This shift away from paternalistic and centralist left-wing parties, as evidenced by events like the Sumar debacle, suggests a growing preference for more authentic and regionally focused political representation. The upcoming elections in the Basque Country may further underscore this trend, reinforcing the notion that Podemos falls short in championing true plurinationalism.
