Broad Frontism, and Then Some (Teodoro León Gross in ABC)

The Frente Amplio will be a residual force in terms of seats, but its real function, according to Teodoro León Gross in ABC, will be to stir up the streets as a rehearsal for a Popular Front that Pedro Sánchez has already proposed testing in the Senate with joint lists.

The ABC columnist **Teodoro León Gross** argues that the **Frente Amplio** will be a residual force at the ballot box, but that its true mission will not be decided in Congress but in the streets. In his article, Gross states that the new electoral brand of the left to the left of the PSOE will bring a "key frontism" and that its role will be to "set the streets on fire". He adds that they are "in the dress rehearsal".

## A name borrowed from the Southern Cone

Gross points out that the "Frente Amplio" label arrives in Spain imported from the Southern Cone. He recalls that it was first Uruguayan, with **Líber Seregni**, and that it later triumphed there with **Tabaré Vázquez** and **José Mujica**. Later it moved to Chile, with **Gabriel Boric**. The columnist places it within what he describes as the inexhaustible mutation of the Spanish far left: Izquierda Unida, Podemos, Unidas Podemos, Sumar and now this Frente Amplio. Gross calls it a paradox that the name arrives just when its prospects are minimal.

According to his analysis, the election result will be yet another reality check. Gross points to a horizon of **eight to fifteen seats**, and argues that the combination of names does not matter — he mentions **Irene Montero**, **Ada Colau** and **Gabriel Rufián** — because it will remain residual. He adds that, despite that weakness, its members will continue to present themselves as the voice of the people.

## The street as the main stage

The article argues that, precisely because of that weakness, the Frente Amplio will play a key role: stirring up the streets. Gross writes that this will be its function in the next legislature and that it will give its members a comforting sense of prominence. He cites the class trade unions as support, crediting them with calling a general strike against the opposition. He lists housing, education, pensions and wages as possible pretexts for protests.

Gross insists that the issue is not the Frente Amplio but "Broad Frontism, or Very Broad Frontism". His conclusion is that the mission will be to set the streets on fire and that they are in the dress rehearsal.

## From the Frente Amplio to the Popular Front

The ultimate goal, according to Gross, is a **Popular Front**. He states that this is the roadmap of **Pedro Sánchez** and that he has even proposed testing the formula in the **Senate** with joint lists. For the columnist, the Frente Amplio is merely a transitional electoral brand destined for failure, before sanchismo recovers the Popular Front of the thirties, which he places as heir to the Front Commun contre le Fascisme.

Gross argues that frontism is not a new idea, but the strategy Sánchez has been pursuing for years with his wall speech: two isolated and confrontational spaces. He adds that this "with them or with us" logic allowed him to secure the support of the **PNV** and even **Junts** by fleeing from **Vox**. He mentions the precedents of the Estella Pact and the Tinell Pact. He closes by warning that the next legislature will be marked by burning streets and that "Spain is going to smell a lot of burning tyres".

## Key points

- Teodoro León Gross publishes his analysis in ABC on 16 October 2026.
- Gross places the Frente Amplio in a range of 8 to 15 seats.
- The columnist credits the class trade unions with calling a general strike against the opposition.
- Gross states that Pedro Sánchez has proposed testing joint lists in the Senate.
- The article frames the Frente Amplio as a step towards a Popular Front.