Sumar replaces more than half its leadership as Yolanda Díaz and Lara Hernández depart
The Spanish left-wing party Movimiento Sumar will replace 34 of its 65 executive members at an extraordinary assembly on July 11, after founder Yolanda Díaz and coordinator Lara Hernández both quit the leadership amid a toxic internal feud.
Leadership exodus
The party's maximum body between congresses, the Grupo Coordinador, will see 34 of its 65 members leave, a turnover of more than half in just 15 months since they were elected. The only candidacy for the new leadership, called "Sumar para gobernar", was presented on Thursday and will be voted on by delegates at the July 11 assembly.
I am not going to contribute, collaborate, or share space with people and a toxic environment.
- Remain
- 31 members
- Leave
- 34 members
New leadership team
The list is headed by congressional spokesperson Verónica Martínez Barbero and Secretary of State for Social Rights Rosa Martínez. Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun remains as the party's main institutional figure and possible future electoral candidate. Among those not returning are Yolanda Díaz, who founded the party in 2023 and had already stepped down as coordinator in June 2024, and several deputies: Txema Guijarro, Agustín Santos, Carlos Martín, and Manuel Lago. Also leaving are Labour Secretary of State Joaquín Pérez Rey and Social Economy Secretary of State Amparo Merino.
Internal feud and harassment claims
Lara Hernández resigned on Wednesday after an internal investigation into workplace harassment complaints against her was archived. She denounced a "campaign of discredit" and "lies and slander", saying she had suffered "the hardest and dirtiest side of politics". Yolanda Díaz, who remains vice-president in the Spanish government, distanced herself from the crisis, wishing Hernández "muchísima suerte" (a lot of luck) and declining further comment.
Timeline of the crisis
- Yolanda Díaz resigns as coordinator of Movimiento Sumar after poor European election results.
- Six party officials file workplace harassment complaints against coordinator Lara Hernández.
- The internal investigation is archived after witnesses withdraw their testimonies.
- Lara Hernández resigns as coordinator and leaves the party, citing a toxic environment.
- The only candidacy for the new leadership is presented, led by Verónica Martínez Barbero and Rosa Martínez.
- Extraordinary assembly elects the new leadership.
What's next for Sumar
The party faces an uncertain future: it has no clear candidate for the next general elections, no territorial implantation, and is negotiating a new electoral coalition with Izquierda Unida, Comuns, and Más Madrid. The assembly on July 11 will formalise the new leadership, but deep divisions remain.
