Movimiento Sumar replaces much of its leadership after months of internal conflict. The party aims to rebuild and prepare for the 2027 elections, focusing on unity and a new political direction.
Movimiento Sumar has entered a decisive phase, overhauling its leadership after months of internal turmoil that saw half of its executive team depart. The party, founded by Vice President Yolanda Díaz, is now focused on stabilizing its organization and setting a clear course for the 2027 general, regional, and municipal elections. This weekend in Madrid, Verónica Barbero, parliamentary spokesperson in Congress, and Rosa Martínez, Secretary of State for Social Rights, were appointed as joint coordinators following a consensus list at the party’s third assembly.
Although Yolanda Díaz will not hold a formal position in the new leadership—having previously announced she would not run again—her presence at the assembly’s closing session underlines her ongoing influence. The leadership change comes after a period marked by a contentious struggle for control, culminating in the departure of former general coordinator Lara Hernández and several prominent figures, including deputies Txema Guijarro, Agustín Santos Maraver, Manuel Lago, and State Secretaries Joaquín Pérez Rey and Amparo Merino.
The assembly’s main agenda was to renew the party’s governing bodies and lay the groundwork for a more robust political project with a territorial presence. Movimiento Sumar’s new roadmap emphasizes building an independent identity while collaborating “on equal footing with sister organizations” to form a broad progressive front. The party’s updated political document advocates for ecosocialist labor policies, feminism, and anti-racism, with a strong internationalist stance opposed to trumpism. It also sets out three core objectives: securing a plurinational progressive majority in Congress, expanding beyond the 2023 Sumar coalition, and establishing common rules to ensure stability within the political space.
Rosa Martínez highlighted the party’s commitment to defending social advances, criticizing the Partido Popular for voting against reforms to dependency and disability laws, despite these including long-standing demands for central government to cover 50% of dependency funding. Verónica Barbero, meanwhile, addressed the recent deadly fire in Los Gallardos (Almería), linking it to climate policy and criticizing the Partido Popular’s coalition with climate change deniers in Andalusia, which holds responsibility for prevention and response.
The party’s internal crisis was triggered by an investigation into alleged workplace harassment involving Lara Hernández, a process initiated by current leaders but ultimately shelved. However, one complaint remains under review by the Labour Inspectorate. Hernández, who took office in March 2025, accused the party of orchestrating a campaign to discredit her, prompting her resignation and that of several allies. The Valencian executive also boycotted the assembly, protesting what it described as a sustained strategy to undermine the project in the region.
Despite these setbacks, several key figures remain in the coordinating group, including Minister of Culture and party spokesperson Ernest Urtasun, parliamentarians Esther Gil, Lndr Martínez, Viviane Ogou, and Laura Vergara, MEP Estrella Galán, and regional leaders such as Esperanza Gómez (Andalusia), Paulo Carlos López (Galicia), and Alba García Martín (Euskadi). Former Díaz chief of staff Josep Vendrell and ex-Balearic vice president Juan Pedro Yllanes also continue in leadership roles.
The assembly follows 25 sectoral and territorial meetings, but the party’s limited presence across Spain remains a challenge compared to coalition partners like Más Madrid, Comuns, and Izquierda Unida. These groups are central to the ongoing process known as “Un paso al frente,” aimed at building a unified front for the next general elections. The shifting alliances and internal disputes within Spain’s left are reminiscent of recent developments in Andalusia, where Vox secured key roles in the regional government, highlighting the volatility and fragmentation shaping the country’s political landscape.
Movimiento Sumar’s efforts to rebuild come at a time when Spain’s political left faces increasing competition and the need for greater cohesion. The party’s emphasis on a broad, stable alliance reflects a wider trend among progressive forces seeking to counterbalance the rise of right-wing parties and maintain influence in national politics. As the 2027 elections approach, the effectiveness of these internal reforms and coalition strategies will be closely watched by both supporters and rivals.
