León Mayor Accuses Former PSOE Leader of Irregular Membership Practices
José Antonio Diez Díaz alleges Santos Cerdán inflated local party membership to undermine his candidacy.
José Antonio Diez Díaz, the mayor of León and a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), has publicly accused Santos Cerdán, the former secretary general of the PSOE, of manipulating local party membership records.
Diez claims that Cerdán "inflated" the local membership rolls with over 200 "irregular files" as part of a strategy to remove him from his position as a candidate for mayor.
The controversy traces back to 2021, stemming from a clash between Diez and former Minister of Transport José Luis Ábalos, alongside his advisor Koldo García. Diez recounted incidents in which he felt threatened by these individuals.
Following Ábalos’ dismissal from office, Cerdán assumed control of the party’s organizational secretariat.
Diez accused Cerdán of endorsing the inclusion of these irregular files into León’s local party membership, the most populous in the region of Castilla y León and one of the largest in Spain, seemingly to undermine his candidacy in the upcoming municipal elections.
He characterized the actions as a "coordinated operation" in collaboration with the provincial party leadership aimed squarely at his removal.
The mayor reported that he filed a complaint with the PSOE governing bodies, but indicated that he did not receive adequate support.
He noted that the party’s ethical commission often fails to address such issues because it is composed of individuals from the same group against which complaints are made.
Diez described the situation as a "very serious matter," indicating that any manipulation of electoral processes signifies a lack of democratic values within the PSOE.
He also revealed that he had a meeting with Cerdán in Ferraz, the PSOE headquarters, but alleged that it did not lead to any resolution.
In a statement, Diez emphasized that Cerdán acted as the "executing arm" of a provincial secretary who purportedly sought to oust him from the party.
Despite the allegations, Diez asserted his ability to prevail against the party apparatus, claiming strong support from León's party members.
Further addressing the situation, Diez commented on recent reports concerning Ábalos and others in a damaging UCO report that reportedly poses threats to the current government.
He expressed no surprise at the revelations, suggesting that individuals capable of such acts within a party with 140 years of history could be expected to engage in questionable practices.
Diez remarked on his brief impression of Cerdán, stating that he found the mannerisms of both Cerdán and his associates to be unprofessional.
He also highlighted the importance of accountability in leadership, subtly referencing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez without direct mention, by questioning the rationale behind associating with individuals lacking professionalism despite having access to capable individuals in the government.
Throughout the interview, Diez underscored the need for accountability and expressed a desire for clarity in the ongoing situation, asserting that explanations are required regarding the conduct of those involved.
Diez claims that Cerdán "inflated" the local membership rolls with over 200 "irregular files" as part of a strategy to remove him from his position as a candidate for mayor.
The controversy traces back to 2021, stemming from a clash between Diez and former Minister of Transport José Luis Ábalos, alongside his advisor Koldo García. Diez recounted incidents in which he felt threatened by these individuals.
Following Ábalos’ dismissal from office, Cerdán assumed control of the party’s organizational secretariat.
Diez accused Cerdán of endorsing the inclusion of these irregular files into León’s local party membership, the most populous in the region of Castilla y León and one of the largest in Spain, seemingly to undermine his candidacy in the upcoming municipal elections.
He characterized the actions as a "coordinated operation" in collaboration with the provincial party leadership aimed squarely at his removal.
The mayor reported that he filed a complaint with the PSOE governing bodies, but indicated that he did not receive adequate support.
He noted that the party’s ethical commission often fails to address such issues because it is composed of individuals from the same group against which complaints are made.
Diez described the situation as a "very serious matter," indicating that any manipulation of electoral processes signifies a lack of democratic values within the PSOE.
He also revealed that he had a meeting with Cerdán in Ferraz, the PSOE headquarters, but alleged that it did not lead to any resolution.
In a statement, Diez emphasized that Cerdán acted as the "executing arm" of a provincial secretary who purportedly sought to oust him from the party.
Despite the allegations, Diez asserted his ability to prevail against the party apparatus, claiming strong support from León's party members.
Further addressing the situation, Diez commented on recent reports concerning Ábalos and others in a damaging UCO report that reportedly poses threats to the current government.
He expressed no surprise at the revelations, suggesting that individuals capable of such acts within a party with 140 years of history could be expected to engage in questionable practices.
Diez remarked on his brief impression of Cerdán, stating that he found the mannerisms of both Cerdán and his associates to be unprofessional.
He also highlighted the importance of accountability in leadership, subtly referencing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez without direct mention, by questioning the rationale behind associating with individuals lacking professionalism despite having access to capable individuals in the government.
Throughout the interview, Diez underscored the need for accountability and expressed a desire for clarity in the ongoing situation, asserting that explanations are required regarding the conduct of those involved.
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