ERC faces pressure to apologize to Maragall family over Alzheimer's campaign

Cristina Maragall, president of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, has called on the political party Esquerra Republicana (ERC) to issue a direct and sensitive apology to her family. The demand follows the conclusion of an internal investigation into the use of false-flag posters that weaponized her late father's Alzheimer's disease to politically attack her uncle, Ernest Maragall.

While Maragall acknowledged the party's internal investigation, she noted that no representative from ERC has contacted the family or the foundation directly. She emphasized that such political campaigns offend not only her family but all those living with Alzheimer's, potentially increasing the social stigma surrounding the disease.

ERC Secretary General Elisenda Alamany stated that the party is currently managing a formal apology. An internal report identified former communication officials Sergi Sabrià and Marc Colomer as the primary responsible parties. During a recent national council meeting, deputy secretary general Oriol López issued a public apology for the harm caused, expressing a commitment to repairing the damage and preventing future occurrences.