Movimiento Sumar has resolved its leadership dispute. Verónica Barbero and Rosa Martínez will jointly coordinate the party after the July assembly. Their main challenge is to secure a new electoral coalition for the upcoming general elections.
Movimiento Sumar has reached a pivotal agreement to end months of internal discord, announcing that Verónica Barbero and Rosa Martínez will jointly coordinate the party following its assembly on July 11. This decision comes after a turbulent period marked by resignations and an internal investigation, signaling a renewed push for unity as the party prepares for the next general elections.
The joint leadership ticket, confirmed by party sources on Friday, brings together Barbero, the parliamentary spokesperson, and Martínez, the Secretary of State for Social Rights. Their immediate priority will be to steer negotiations for a new electoral coalition, working alongside Izquierda Unida, Comuns, and Más Madrid. The move is seen as a strategic effort to strengthen the party’s position ahead of a crucial national vote expected next year.
In a letter sent to the media, Barbero and Martínez outlined their reasons for joining forces, emphasizing the need for collective progress and a shared vision. They highlighted three main objectives: advancing policies to combat inequality, building alliances with diverse organizations to expand rights, and consolidating Movimiento Sumar into a robust national force. The leaders described their candidacy as the beginning of a journey that only makes sense if undertaken together.
This leadership pact follows a period of instability within Movimiento Sumar. The party recently faced the resignation of its organization and communications secretaries, as well as an internal probe into workplace harassment allegations against current leader Lara Hernández. These developments unfolded amid a broader struggle for control of the party, reflecting the challenges of maintaining cohesion in Spain’s evolving left-wing landscape. Similar internal tensions have affected other Spanish parties in recent years, as seen when Leire Díez’s decision to testify independently intensified pressure on PSOE leadership.
Barbero, who has represented Pontevedra in parliament since 2023 and previously served as Director General of Labour, emerged as a consensus figure to replace Íñigo Errejón in November 2024. Martínez, a political scientist and social activist from León, was one of four interim coordinators after Yolanda Díaz stepped down following the 2024 European elections. She also led the party’s political platform for the March 2025 congress, succeeding Errejón in that role. Martínez’s background includes serving as a deputy for Bizkaia with Podemos and Unidos Podemos, and later as an independent after leaving Equo in 2019. She returned to politics with the founding of Sumar in 2023.
Movimiento Sumar’s upcoming assembly is expected to formalize this new leadership and set the direction for coalition talks. The party’s ability to present a united front will be critical as Spain approaches another election cycle. For context, Spain’s political landscape has seen frequent realignments among left-wing parties, with coalition-building often determining electoral outcomes. The success of Barbero and Martínez in consolidating support could influence not only the future of Movimiento Sumar but also the broader configuration of progressive forces in the country.
