Politics · Spain · 7 hrs ago
PSOE candidates in Palencia resign after party replaces their chosen lead candidate
The PSOE’s proposed candidates in Palencia have all resigned from the party’s list for Spain’s general election on November 29.
Local party members had chosen Álvaro Bilbao to lead the list, with 77 votes in favour and one abstention at the provincial committee.
The party’s Federal Lists Committee removed Bilbao and selected sitting deputy Mariluz Martínez Seijo instead, a decision later approved by the Federal Committee.
The candidates said this overturned the choice of Palencia’s members.
The resignations include Luis Ángel Marín Paredes, Alicia García Alonso and the two proposed substitute candidates, Luis Fernando Cantero Mena and Mireia Barrios Bernardos.
The withdrawal leaves the party’s Palencia list in question ahead of the November 29 general election.
All members of the PSOE list proposed by party members in Palencia resigned after the party replaced their chosen lead candidate.
The Federal Committee ratified the decision to replace Álvaro Bilbao with veteran lawmaker Mariluz Martínez Seijo.
The proposed list had received 77 votes in favor and one abstention at the Provincial Committee.
The resignations were announced on Monday, 19 October, ahead of Spain’s general election scheduled for 29 November.
- Who
- The PSOE candidates proposed by party members in Palencia resigned, including Luis Ángel Marín Paredes, Alicia García Alonso and two substitutes.
- What
- They withdrew from the party’s congressional candidate list in protest after Álvaro Bilbao was replaced as its lead candidate by Mariluz Martínez Seijo.
- When
- Monday, 19 October 2026. The general election is scheduled for 29 November.
- Where
- Palencia province.
- Why
- They said the replacement went against the choice of the local party membership, which had backed Bilbao.
Palencia PSOE members and proposed candidates
PSOE Federal Lists Commission and Federal Committee
Lead candidate
Palencia PSOE members and proposed candidates
Members chose Álvaro Bilbao as their lead candidate.
PSOE Federal Lists Commission and Federal Committee
The Federal Lists Commission removed Bilbao and selected Mariluz Martínez Seijo.
Basis for the decision
Palencia PSOE members and proposed candidates
The proposed list had 77 votes in favor, one abstention and the backing of local party groups.
PSOE Federal Lists Commission and Federal Committee
The Federal Committee ratified the Commission’s decision to replace Bilbao.
The proposed list, headed by Álvaro Bilbao, received 77 votes in favor and one abstention.
The Federal Lists Commission replaced Bilbao with Mariluz Martínez Seijo, and the Federal Committee ratified the decision.
Luis Ángel Marín Paredes, Alicia García Alonso and two substitutes announced they would not appear on the candidate list.
The general election is scheduled to take place.
- Original lead candidate
- Álvaro Bilbao
- Replacement candidate
- Mariluz Martínez Seijo
- Provincial Committee vote
- 77 in favor; one abstention
- Resigning candidates named
- Luis Ángel Marín Paredes; Alicia García Alonso
- Resigning substitutes named
- Luis Fernando Cantero Mena; Mireia Barrios Bernardos
- Scheduled election date
- 29 November 2026
3 sources
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