Ernest Maragall, the former leader of ERC in the Barcelona City Council, has announced that he is resigning from the party. This decision comes in the wake of controversy surrounding defamatory posters that included himself and former president of the Generalitat, Pasqual Maragall, along with references to Alzheimer’s disease.
During a press conference at the party’s headquarters, Maragall stated, “As of today, I am no longer part of the organization, but I still identify with a vision of ERC that is undergoing a clear process of renewal.” He clarified that this decision, which he had made the previous week, was delayed due to his illness with COVID-19.
Maragall expressed his desire to wait for internal decisions to be made following the incident, but he feels that there are still unresolved issues that need clarification. “I have come to the conclusion that I cannot remain silent about all of this,” he said. He emphasized that he would not tolerate any misunderstanding of his silence as agreement or complicity.
He believes it is unacceptable to maintain a facade of normalcy or allow speculation about his views on the situation. “I cannot leave this matter unresolved; it is time for me to step away,” he explained.
Feeling disappointed and critical, Maragall pointed out that a combination of circumstances led to his departure from ERC. He expressed dissatisfaction with the actions of certain party members, although he noted that the political leadership initially acted correctly.
He underscored that he had raised concerns immediately after the incident became public but was frustrated that no one stepped up to take responsibility at that time. Maragall described the incident with the posters as a reflection of “ignorance, negligence, and political frivolity” by those who conceived, executed, and approved the initiative. He specifically held the communications team accountable, highlighting their role in the mismanagement.
Furthermore, he noted that the leadership was not aware of the issue until months later, claiming this did not absolve them of their responsibility. Maragall lamented that the controversy has been politically exploited, particularly in the context of the internal debates currently facing the party, and has served as a means to discredit the organization as a whole.
Despite his departure from ERC, Maragall called for a new era with fresh leadership within the party. He pledged to work as a citizen to help strengthen the republican project. He concluded by stating that many ERC members are witnessing a shameful spectacle that many never expected to see.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/espana/agencias/2024/07/23/maragall-rompe-el-carne-de-erc-tras-la-polemica-por-los-carteles-de-alzheimer/
