Sawt Falasteen - Yolanda Diaz, the Communist rallying Spain's left

Gone -- at least in theory -- are the divisions that plagued Spain's left-wing coalition government in recent months, with Podemos throwing its support behind Diaz's Sumar ("Unite") platform after suffering a major defeat in the May 28 local and regional elections.

"The most important thing is that we join hands, we talk and we build bridges to show Spain what politics is all about," said the 52-year-old lawyer, who is a member of the Spanish Communist Party (PCE), as she laid out her strategy earlier this year.

"It's not about making noise or making a scene but about improving people's lives," said Diaz, who is credited with raising Spain's minimum wage.

Number three in Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government, Diaz created Sumar a year ago and has managed to attract the support of 15 parties to stand as the sole candidate for the radical left in Sunday's vote.

It was a key victory for the Galician-born politician who in three years has gone from being a virtual unknown to Spain's most trusted party leader in the polls -- a feat she accepted with a cool head, insisting she's not looking to win any "medals".

The party is tied for third place in the polls with far-right party Vox.

- Activism with babe in arms -

Born in May 1971 in Fene near Ferrol, a working-class town in northwest Spain which was the birthplace of former dictator Francisco Franco, the labour law specialist made a name for herself over a decade ago for taking part in political meetings with her baby in her arms.

But it was her nomination as labour minister in 2020 which brought her into the spotlight.

And 18 months later, Podemos' then leader Pablo Iglesias handed her the reins of the radical left after he stepped down from politics following an electoral setback.

"Yolanda Diaz could be the next prime minister of Spain," Iglesias said at the time when the pair were very close.

The daughter of a leading trade union leader, she has established herself firmly within Spain's political landscape thanks to her affable nature and her ability to compromise, which has been hailed by both unions and employers groups.

Diaz negotiated a crucial furlough agreement during the Covid crisis, secured a significant increase to the minimum wage and pushed through a key labour reform.

- 'Dressed in Dior' -

She is hoping to be able to capitalise on such achievements by highlighting her image as a pragmatist.

Unlike Podemos, whose leaders were quick to attack their Socialist coalition partners, she has been careful to avoid confrontation with Sanchez, who is hoping to be reelected and would likely seek to partner with Sumar.

Diaz, who frequently dresses in red, likes to recall the time Spain's veteran Communist leader, Santiago Carrillo, kissed her hand when she was four years old.

"She's like (France's hard-left leader Jean-Luc) Melenchon, only dressed in Christian Dior!" grumbled Socialist veteran Alfonso Guerra, who has been critical of Sanchez's alliances with the radical left.

It is a reproach that has been echoed in business circles where Sumar's "universal inheritance" plan, which involves giving young people 20,000 euros ($22,500) to spend on study or training, has provoked a backlash because of its estimated 10-billion-euro price tag.

But Diaz has fought back, insisting it was a crucial way to ensure "equal opportunities" for all.

She is also facing opposition from parts of Podemos after Sumar said it would not accept the presence of Equality Minister Irene Montero on its list.

W.Mansour--SF-PST