Marc Puigtió faces scrutiny after an audio leak reveals plans to oust party leaders in Girona. ERC's president calls for a thorough investigation into the matter.
Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) has initiated an internal investigation into Marc Puigtió, its candidate for the upcoming municipal elections in Girona, following the emergence of a leaked audio recording. In this recording, Puigtió is heard discussing his intentions to remove all local party leaders and seize control of ERC in Girona. The incident has raised significant concerns within the party and prompted ERC’s president, Oriol Junqueras, to announce that a commission will examine the context and implications of these statements.
The controversy erupted when an Instagram account named Girona Perduda published the audio on Tuesday. In it, Puigtió candidly expresses his desire to “echarlos a todos” (get rid of them all) and utilize ERC’s electoral resources for his own agenda. This revelation has not only shocked party members but also sparked fears about potential ties with far-right ideologies, especially given that he was conversing with a young individual associated with Vox, a right-wing political party.
In response to the backlash, Puigtió sent an apology letter to ERC members late Tuesday night, acknowledging that while his words were indeed spoken by him, they were taken from edited fragments of private conversations held over several months. He stated that these comments do not reflect his true intentions or values as they may have been misinterpreted.
Pleading for understanding, he explained that he aimed to alleviate tensions affecting the party and did not fully grasp the implications of sharing such thoughts with someone outside of ERC’s circle. He emphasized his commitment to restoring trust among party members and promised full transparency moving forward.
Junqueras characterized Puigtió’s comments as “tremendously unfortunate and out of place,” underscoring the need for due process before any decisions are made regarding disciplinary actions. He insisted on clarity about when and how these statements were made before proceeding further.
The national leadership of ERC has decided to open this inquiry jointly with local executives in Girona to assess whether any responsibilities should be assigned based on their findings. Until this investigation concludes, no further statements will be issued by the party regarding this matter.
This incident marks yet another chapter in a series of internal conflicts within ERC’s Girona faction. Notably, Puigtió’s selection as candidate had already caused divisions during primaries where he narrowly defeated Adam Manyé amid allegations surrounding ballot irregularities. Manyé contested the results but ultimately lost his appeal when the commission upheld a ruling declaring one vote invalid due to improper markings.
The fallout from this latest scandal has already led to resignations within local ranks; Karim Sabni El Garraf, former secretary of image and communication for ERC in Girona, announced he would step back from his role citing concerns over perceived normalization with extreme right elements following Puigtió’s comments. His resignation was publicly supported by fellow member Gabriel Rufián.
This situation is reminiscent of past upheavals within political parties where leadership struggles have led to significant shifts in power dynamics—such as when similar controversies rocked other regional parties across Europe leading up to elections.
As developments unfold regarding Marc Puigtió’s future within Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, observers will be keenly watching how this impacts both local governance strategies and broader electoral prospects for ERC ahead of municipal elections scheduled later this year.
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