Pressure mounts on Pedro Sanchez to call early elections as another resignation adds to corruption allegations, reports the „Guardian“, quoted by NOVA.
Sanchez's efforts to rebuild Spain's ruling Socialist Party after scandalous corruption allegations that threatened to bring down his coalition government have suffered a serious blow after a party official resigned over sexual harassment allegations.
The online newspaper elDiario has published accusations from various women working for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) who said they were sexually harassed by Francisco Salazar, who was in charge of institutional coordination at Moncloa Palace, the office and official residence of Prime Minister.
The allegations led Salazar to announce his resignation from his post and his new position as deputy in the party's organizational secretariat.
He told elDiario that he did not recall any inappropriate interactions. “I tried to remember and it seems impossible. "I keep wondering if I made a mistake and said something inappropriate to a colleague, but the truth is that I can't find an example," he said.
Sources in Moncloa, Madrid, said an investigation had been launched, but added that no formal complaints had been filed against Salazar so far.
Salazar's resignation is another blow to the prime minister's authority and judgment.
On June 30, Santos Cerdán, who was the PSOE's organizational secretary and Sánchez's right-hand man, was taken into custody after a Supreme Court judge found "solid evidence" for his possible involvement in taking bribes in public works contracts.
Sánchez, who became prime minister in 2018 after using a no-confidence vote to oust the corruption-ridden conservative Popular Party, is already battling corruption investigations involving his wife and brother, who deny any wrongdoing. A former PSOE member was also recently implicated in an alleged smear campaign against the Civil Guard unit investigating corruption allegations.
The Popular Party said the latest allegations were further evidence of the prime minister’s poor judgment and his inability to lead the country.
Calls for new elections are also beginning to emerge from some parts of the Socialist Party. Emiliano García-Pache, president of the PSOE in the Castilla-La Mancha region, said it was time for parliament and the people to have their say.