Movimiento Sumar seeks to turn the page and prepare the party for general elections

Movimiento Sumar is holding its third assembly this Saturday, seeking to move past recent internal turmoil and prepare the organization for the next electoral cycle. Verónica Barbero, parliamentary spokesperson in Congress, and Rosa Martínez, Secretary of State for Social Rights, are set to take over the general coordination following a pact for a unitary list. This assembly marks a new chapter for the three-year-old party, founded by Vice President Yolanda Díaz to join the Sumar coalition in the 2023 elections.

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We are launching the assembly to reorganize and prepare ourselves for the new political cycle with the objective of revalidating the progressive coalition government. We have that conviction, we will rise to the occasion and I think we have shown this week why it is important that we are in the Government.

Although not formally holding party positions, Vice President Yolanda Díaz will attend the closing of the meeting in Madrid. The assembly aims to renew leadership and, more importantly, foster a distinct political project and territorial organization to prepare for the general, regional, and municipal elections scheduled for 2027. Movimiento Sumar intends to continue working "on equal footing with other sister organizations" to form a broad front. Barbero emphasized the goal of reorganizing to face the new political cycle and revalidate the progressive coalition government, highlighting the importance of their role in the current government.

Martínez criticized the Popular Party (PP) for voting against the reform of dependency and disability laws, despite the central government agreeing to cover 50% of dependency funding. She accused the PP of obstructionism, stating, "It's a no for the sake of no, and it's not allowing any social progress in this country." Barbero also referenced the recent fire in Los Gallardos, Almería, which claimed at least 12 lives, linking it to the PP's regional government, which she accused of "denying climate change" and having responsibilities in prevention and extinction efforts.

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It's a no for the sake of no, and it's not allowing any social progress in this country.

The party faces its weakest moment, burdened by an internal investigation into alleged workplace harassment of the former coordinator, Lara Hernández. Although the procedure, initiated by current leaders, was archived, one of the complaints is now with the Labor Inspectorate. Hernández had assumed the role in the March 2023 assembly.

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The Popular Party has just agreed to a government with climate change deniers.