Uralde, Podemos's record man in 2015 and penultimate bullet to not disappear today

Few individuals can capture the story of Podemos quite like Juan Lopez de Uralde. As a historic environmental leader, he has witnessed the birth, rise, fall, and survival attempts of the party. Now, Uralde returns to the frontlines as a Podemos candidate in the Basque Country, specifically for the province of Álava. This movement signifies a strong commitment to the territory, emphasizing the party’s original essence and garnering support.

Uralde chose the working-class neighborhood of Zaramaga, a symbolic place marked by events in Vitoria in 1976, as the starting point for his campaign. In the face of the largest massacre during the Transition, Uralde launched his campaign with a focus on demanding change and ensuring a left-wing government. Accompanied by Ione Belarra, they highlighted the need for representation and resisting the loss of their current seats.

In Álava, Podemos seems to have the most opportunities as surveys place them closer to 3% compared to other provinces. Belarra emphasized the need to “stop handing over the governability of this beautiful country to the PNV once again” and called for support for the purples.

Amid this struggle, the role of Uralde is crucial in retaining the maximum number of votes and preventing leakage to other options. With a background as a former leader of Greenpeace in Spain and a prominent figure in the Equo coalition, Uralde became an iconic Podemos leader. Winning the seat in Álava with the highest percentage of votes in the country, he has been a cornerstone in the party’s success.

After a period of little understanding between Uralde and Podemos, they are now relying on his electoral power. Despite his alignment with Yolanda Díaz and Sumar during the fracture within Podemos, Uralde remains committed to the purples and aims to obtain a seat in the Basque Parliament. This serves as a symbolic battle against Sumar in Euskadi.

Throughout the campaign, Uralde has showcased his belligerent profile, distancing himself from Sumar and appealing to leftist voters. Returning to his activist roots, Uralde seeks to rally support and make a lasting impact in the region.