The organizing secretary of the PSdeG, Lara Méndez, defended the actions of her party despite the internal and external criticism that points to the Galician socialist leadership for the management of the “Tomé case”, declared the president of the Foral Deputation of Lugo, recently resigned – … although he maintains his record as provincial deputy – and still mayor of Monforte de Lemos, highlighted by a alleged case of sexual harassment.
In the same way that the leader of the Galician Socialists defended his leadership, while recognizing that he and Lara Méndez were aware of the matter and had met on several occasions with a third party who informed them of the situation, this time it was the turn of their number two, who defended having acted in accordance with what “the protocols establish”.
“We encourage you to report, this is what we can do, because there is an article, which is article 191 of the Penal Code, which prevents us from filing a complaint on behalf of any victim,” Méndez said, avoid responding if resignation is being considered from one of the leaders of the PSdeG who had been aware of the affair since last October (her as well as Besteiro and Pilar García Porto). In this sense, he stressed that none of them “had a meeting with any victim” and did not speak directly, although he admitted having met a third person who explained to him the situation that concerned José Tomé.
Despite criticism of the management of the crisis, notably that of the PSdeg equality secretary, who recently resigned, or the fact that complaints against Francisco Salazar have disappeared from the internal channel, Méndez defended this tool also encouraging other parties to include it. All this just hours after the young people of the Galician Socialist Party themselves sent a statement in which, in addition to criticizing the management of the case, they affirm that “the protocol does not work” and that “the only way to punish machismo, with the support of a party, is through the courts and not through a channel of anonymous complaints.”
“We listen to everyone’s sensitivities and we understand the discomfort because we share it”, transmitted Méndez when asked about another source of criticism: the declaration signed by eight socialist mayors of the province of Orense in which they invite the “accomplices” who “hide, protect, relativize or slow down the investigations” to “assume their responsibilities and abandon all their functions”.
“We feel the support of activismalso including, as I said, the discomfort due to the given situation. This was also transmitted to the Executive, we also acted quickly with the governing bodies and we also felt this support from the activists”, insisted the organizing secretary of the PSdeG, further believing that They took action as soon as they became aware of the complaint once filed internally and the president of the Provincial Council presented his resignation “automatically”, even if he remains attached to the mayor of Monforte and his record as provincial deputy, which will allow him to play a role in his succession.
Regarding the resignation of Silvia Fraga, Méndez expressed his gratitude for the “work accomplished”, highlighting her as a person of “great ability and great value” who “must continue to be an important asset in our party”.
(There will be an extension)
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