MÉS and the PSIB negotiate a joint candidacy for the Senate

PalmaMÉS per Mallorca and the PSIB are exploring the possibility of a joint candidacy for the Senate. Sources from both parties confirm that there are negotiations regarding this matter and the result is expected to be announced in the coming days. If an agreement is finally reached to maximize votes, it would be the first time that MÉS opens itself to a unitary list with the PSIB in the Upper House. Although the Senate is usually a secondary chamber in the day-to-day politics in Madrid, in this legislative term it will gain importance, because the correlation of forces in this chamber can affect a change in majorities in the Constitutional Court.

Given the possibility that the PP and Vox will emerge strengthened in the Chamber and also in Congress, progressive voices have asked the left to explore a pact and not to run separately, as the Senate has a majoritarian electoral system with open lists that rewards the concentration of the vote. In the Islands, there are previous experiences: in 2023, the PSOE, Sumar, Esquerra Unida, and Ara Eivissa allied themselves to obtain representation in Ibiza and Formentera. The PSIB, The Greens, Esquerra Unida, and ENE also ran together in 1996 in this territory. Precisely, these elections will be the first in history in which Formentera will be able to choose its own senator. In parallel, in Menorca, joint candidacies were formed in 1977, 1981, 2004, and 2008 (Progressive Candidacy of Menorca and Progressives of Menorca).

The leader of the eco-sovereigntists, Lluís Apesteguia, already showed his interest this Wednesday in repeating this scheme at an autonomous level, and perhaps, also at a state level. However, for now, the talks are still underway. MÉS per Mallorca, Més per Menorca and Ara Eivissa, constituted in the federation Ara Més, are still negotiating with the rest of the parties to the left of the PSOE to explore a possible electoral coalition. Furthermore, the leadership of Ara Més must also decide who will be their visible face. The name of the current deputy in Congress, Vicenç Vidal, is in doubt, and there are internal voices that are betting on other names, such as that of the federation's spokesperson, Carme Gomila.