The State Guarantee Commission of Podemos has resolved the file presented to the 13 former members of the executive of Podem Catalunya who defended the electoral coalition with Sumar for the 23-J parliamentary elections last June. The document suspends them from militancy for nine months and stipulates that they cannot run for public or organic positions in the party for four years. Sources close to those affected told Europa Press that they received the notification “a few days ago” and that the ban applies from the date the file was opened by Podem. In any case, the sanction has limited practical impact, at least in the short term, since the 13 defendants resigned from their positions a month and a half ago.
The discussion within Podemos about whether to run in a coalition with Sumar in the last general elections sparked a crisis within the party led by Ione Belarra, which debated whether or not to join Yolanda Díaz's project. Among the political leaders indicted was former MP and city councilor for Molins de Rei (Barcelona), Lucas Ferro.
According to Europa Press, the 13 former leaders resigned from their organic positions in November, although only one left the party. The resolution comes in the middle of the process of the Citizens' Assembly primaries, which end on February 2, and the state-level primaries for the European elections, so this sanction will prevent them from running in the European, Catalan, municipal and municipal elections 2027 general election.
Sources from Podemos indicate that they will not be asked to give up the public positions they currently hold and for which they were chosen as representatives of En Comú Podem. This is the case of MP Yolanda López, provisionally suspended from militancy.
Podemos is diluted in Catalonia
Podem Catalunya is losing strength in a community where space is resisting because of the commons of Ada Colau, the former mayor of Barcelona. The party, on the eve of a new meeting and now led by a manager, appeared to have avoided tensions with Sumar. However, the conflict between Yolanda Díaz and Ione Belarra has ultimately led to a split in the En Comú Podem brand, very consolidated in Catalonia since 2015. In fact, in early December, the Lower House requested the return of the minutes to five representatives in Congress, including Lilith Verstrynge, organizing secretary of Podemos and number four for Barcelona in the last elections in July.
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