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Monica Oltra, the deputy premier of Valencia’s regional government, has already said that her Compromís party, a key local ally, will not repeat an electoral coalition with Podemos in the April general election.

She helps lead Compromís, a local leftist party that allied with the Socialists and others to form the government.

Though the Socialists have co-operated closely with Compromís in Valencia, they have clashed repeatedly with Podemos in Madrid.

And Mr Iglesias exercises direct control over only two-thirds of his party’s parliamentary tally; the rest actually belong to local coalitions led by partners like Compromís.

"It's a bit like college," said Enric Bataller of Valencian regional party Compromis, another Podemos ally.