The crisis caused by the fall of Iñigo Errejón has shaken Sumar at its weakest moment and once again tests the space coordinated by Yolanda Díaz in the government. After the forced resignation of their parliamentary spokesperson on Thursday due to accusations of domestic violence, the leader of IU, Antonio Maíllo, criticized the situation and hinted at the Vice President’s party. Maíllo demanded “accountability” if anyone knew about Errejón’s behavior and failed to act, while Más Madrid claimed credit for his resignation. This pressure comes at a time when the organization lacks clear leadership after Díaz’s step aside in June, amidst the redefinition of the project and the debate over choosing a successor for the Congress spokesperson. From the government, the Socialist María Jesús Montero expressed support for the minority partner in the coalition by defending the firmness with which Sumar acted.
The leadership of Sumar insists that they never had concrete information that Errejón was involved in such aggressive behavior. They only heard rumors, which were similar to those affecting other individuals, but no decision was made based solely on rumors. Although there were rumors of excessive behavior during Errejón’s nights out, there were no reports of criminal or degrading actions towards women. However, they admit that they were aware in 2023, before the general elections, of a woman’s complaint on social media about Errejón touching her at a concert. The party began an investigation as Errejón was a candidate, but the accuser deleted the message shortly after and no one else corroborated the incident. They emphasize that during his tenure as spokesperson, there were no complaints about his behavior, and he had a good relationship with other deputies.
Mónica García, leader of Más Madrid, expressed deep concern and support for all victims in response to the recent revelations. Errejón cofounded the party in 2019 with then-Mayor of Madrid, Manuela Carmena. After a brief tenure in regional politics, he transitioned to national politics in November of the same year and founded Más País. Following the general elections of June 23, that party merged into Sumar. Errejón had distanced himself from the current leadership of Más Madrid, which maintains a separate identity from Díaz’s party. Voices within the parliamentary group are beginning to question Sumar’s direction, demanding explanations from those responsible for appointing Errejón as the de facto leader without transparency or internal democracy. They believe both Díaz and Sumar’s spokesperson, Ernest Urtasun, may need to step down if the explanations regarding their knowledge of the situation are unsatisfactory.
The coalition now needs to appoint a replacement for the parliamentary spokesperson position. While it was agreed that Díaz’s party would fill the role, Izquierda Unida has requested to be involved in the decision-making process and restructuring of the group. In light of the harassment scandal, some suggest that a woman should fill the role, and opinions vary on whether the change should be addressed quickly or after further discussions. High-ranking members of Sumar are scheduled to address the media on Saturday, two days after the former spokesperson’s resignation announcement. The organization acknowledges the need for an in-depth discussion on organizational measures for a new phase, emphasizing the importance of dealing with past issues before moving forward.
