That Podemos is going to play a “modest” role in Sumar does not mean that some of its leaders do not have a place in the front line of the coalition. This is the case of Nacho Álvarez, one of the members of the party with the best poster and reputation inside and outside the purple formation, whom Yolanda Díaz has recovered and announced this Monday as her new campaign spokesperson on economic matters.
Álvarez, who currently works as Secretary of State for Social Rights of the Government, is one of the people from Podemos who has worked closely with Díaz in the last two years to address different issues. Among them, the negotiation of the General State Budgets. In addition, he is a person highly valued by the PSOE, and specifically by the Ministry of Finance, for his solvency and seriousness at work.
Sumar has announced that his incorporation into the campaign team is to be the face and voice of economic issues but also that he will direct the political proposal in terms of social, economic and welfare state policies. These are issues on which some of Díaz's strategic axes will revolve in these elections: the problems of families with mortgages, rents and the shopping basket and changes in the taxation of companies and large fortunes to increase income .
Sources from Sumar emphasize that Álvarez is a “reference” economist and that with his incorporation the coalition reinforces the commitment “to continue expanding social rights, making a great fiscal revolution in our country and betting on an economic policy that generates quality jobs “.
Álvarez has been the number two of the Ministry of Social Rights throughout the legislature. During the first years the minister was Pablo Iglesias and, after his departure from the Government, his boss became Ione Belarra, who is also the general secretary of Podemos. Due to his work during this time, he is considered one of the main people responsible for the economic successes of Podemos in the Executive. Well, he has been the great negotiator of the purple ones on key issues. For example, in the configuration of the Minimum Vital Income or in taxes on large fortunes, banking and electricity. He has also been, first with Iglesias and then with Díaz, the interlocutor with the Treasury to agree on the Budgets.
Álvarez, a doctor in Economics and professor at the Autonomous University of Madrid, has been part of Podemos since its emergence in 2014 as head of economic policies but throughout his career he has avoided getting involved in the internal life of the party, even though he has been a member. of the Executive. Thus, when the fratricidal struggle between Pabloites and Errejonistas took place, he stepped aside together with Carolina Bescansa in order to force a consensus that both sectors. As he did not succeed, he resigned to appear in the Vistalegre II primaries. However, Iglesias later recovered it for the Executive. He is currently part of the Belarra Executive.
The signing of Álvarez does not mean that he will go on the electoral lists. His case is similar to the former leader of Podemos Pablo Bustinduy, who joined the campaign team but has not wanted to take the step to become a deputy again..