New scandal in the Spanish government/ Official resigns after sexual harassment allegations

2025-07-05 18:10:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

New scandal in the Spanish government/ Official resigns after sexual harassment

Pedro Sánchez's efforts to restore Spain's ruling Socialist Party, following damaging corruption allegations that threatened to topple his coalition government, have suffered a serious setback after a party official resigned over sexual harassment allegations.

The prime minister had hoped that this weekend's meeting of the federal committee of his Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) would help the party overcome weeks of scandals that have undermined the ethics and anti-corruption promises on which it came to power seven years ago.

But such hopes were dashed on Friday evening, after the online newspaper elDiario published accusations from various PSOE employees who said they had been subjected to sexual harassment by Francisco Salazar, who oversaw institutional coordination at the Moncloa palace, the prime minister's office and official residence.

The allegations prompted Salazar to announce on Saturday that he was stepping down from that post and from his new role as deputy in the PSOE's organizational secretariat.

He told elDiario that he couldn't recall any inappropriate interactions. "I've been very concerned about this and it's mind-boggling," he said. "I keep wondering if I was wrong and said something inappropriate to a coworker, and the truth is I can't find [an example]."

Sources at Moncloa, in Madrid, said an investigation had been launched, but added that no official complaint had been made against Salazar so far.

On Saturday, Sánchez apologized again for what he called misplaced trust in those accused of wrongdoing, adding: “I was wrong to trust people who did not deserve it, but we will not fail in a time of democratic regeneration.”

The prime minister, who is under increasing pressure to call early elections, said he had no intention of resigning.

"The captain does not shirk his responsibility when the sea becomes rough; he stays put to weather the storm and guide the ship to port," he said.

Salazar's resignation is the latest blow to the prime minister's authority and judgment.

On Monday, Santos Cerdán – who served as the PSOE’s organizational secretary and was Sánchez’s right-hand man – was remanded in custody after a high court judge found “strong evidence” of his possible involvement in taking bribes for public construction contracts.

The investigation began after the Guardia Civil police's anti-corruption unit handed over material to the court suggesting that Cerdán had discussed taking such bribes with the former PSOE transport minister, José Luis Ábalos, and one of the minister's aides, Koldo García. Ábalos and García are also under investigation and have denied any wrongdoing. Cerdán, who resigned from his role in the party and resigned from his parliamentary seat shortly after the news broke, has vowed to clear his name.

Sánchez, who became prime minister in 2018 after using a no-confidence motion to oust the corruption-ridden Popular Party (PP) from government, is already facing corruption investigations involving his wife and brother, who deny any wrongdoing. A former PSOE member was also recently involved in an alleged smear campaign against the Guardia Civil unit investigating corruption allegations.

The PP said the latest allegations were further proof of the prime minister's poor judgment and his inability to lead the country.

“He has no credibility and his supposed fight against corruption and sexism is just posturing,” PP sources said on Saturday. “Sánchez is as good at being prime minister as he is at spotting talent. Either there aren’t many good people in his party, or he’s not very good at choosing people who deserve to be in Spanish politics.”

Calls for new elections are also beginning to emerge within some sections of the socialist party. Emiliano García-Page, the president of the PSOE in the Castilla-La Mancha region, said it was time for parliament and the people to have their say.

According to elDiario, García-Page used Saturday's party meeting to ask Sánchez to consider holding a confidence vote in parliament. "I don't know if we'll win it," he said. "But if we don't win it, then don't rule out the possibility of calling elections."/ CNA