Amid the ongoing reorganization, as preliminary voting unfolds, Ruth Merino, a trustee of Ciudadanos en las Corts, appears to be drifting away from the party. A parliamentary spokesperson delivered a briefing at 11 a.m. this Thursday in the autonomous assembly, signaling Merino’s departure from the formation.
Insiders familiar with the party’s internal dynamics suggest that Merino is likely to quit Ciudadanos, a move that would involve stepping back from his trusteeship after having taken on that role a year and a half earlier when Toni Cantó moved to PP in Madrid. Yet he would also relinquish his mandate, solidifying a clear break with the current leadership and direction of the party. [Source: party insiders]
During the press conference following last Tuesday’s board of trustees meeting, Merino articulated a distance from the challenges faced by the party, noting that the reorganization process, the primaries, and the outcomes would not automatically secure a viable future for Ciudadanos, a sentiment that helped explain why he did not run in the primaries. [Source: close observers]
Having already voiced these concerns as the year-end march approached, Merino stated that the situation is discouraging for him, while also revealing that none of the candidates urged him to join their lists despite steering the main parliamentary group for Ciudadanos in the country. [Source: party commentary]
A late Wednesday press release further complicated the picture surrounding Merino’s potential exit, as it suggested that his decision might ultimately mark his definitive departure from the party. The timing aligns with the second day of internal primaries, drawing extra attention to the unfolding leadership crisis. [Source: party press office]
If Merino’s departure is confirmed, the orange party would count four parliamentary spokespersons across nearly two legislatures, following a long line of changes since Ciudadanos entered the Valencian Parliament in 2015. That historical trajectory includes Toni Cantó, Carolina Punset, Alexis Marí, and subsequent departures, with Mari Carmen Sánchez briefly serving before her nomination to the Alicante City Council. [Source: parliamentary history]