Internal Strife: Critics of Mariana Mortágua Withdraw from Bloc Convention Over Leadership Issues

Rising Tensions Within the Bloc

Tensions within the Bloco continue to escalate as a group of critics has announced their decision to boycott the upcoming party convention scheduled for late May. This decision comes after a recent clash over the dismissal of workers from the party, which has been described as the 'last straw'.

Reasons Behind the Boycott

The critics accuse the party's leadership of failing to acknowledge their mistakes and express deep concerns over the lack of internal democracy. They describe the refusal to conduct a thorough evaluation of the dismissal process as a significant failure and illustrate a growing divide within the party. In their statement following a national assembly, they outline their reasons for this 'difficult but conscious' decision to abstain from nominations and positions within the party.

Calls for Accountability

The critics state that the 'last straw' was the complete refusal to hold a consistent evaluation of the dismissal process, demanding accountability both collectively and individually. They highlight a pattern of denial from the leadership, which they claim contradicts the reality faced by the dismissed workers. They argue that the party's leadership has shown no willingness to learn from past electoral failures or internal democratic degradation.

A Declaration for Change

By choosing not to participate in the XIV Convention, the critics assert it is not an act of resignation but rather a clear statement that the Bloco must change. They describe the party as diminished in coherence and capability to engage with the public following recent controversies that have drawn investigations from the Public Ministry.

Ongoing Issues and Leadership Responses

The critics express dissatisfaction with the party's leadership, which has refused to form an internal inquiry committee regarding the dismissals, while announcing updates to the staff's status. They also point out that the organizing committee for the upcoming convention is comprised solely of members aligned with Mariana Mortágua, limiting the representation of dissenting voices. Furthermore, they criticize the leadership for not updating the membership registry, which they argue unfairly benefits the majority faction and distorts electoral processes.

Recent Resignations

Recently, four members of the critics' faction resigned from the Political Committee, although Mortágua suggested their departure was unrelated to the dismissal issue, indicating a longer-term divergence from the party’s direction.