the fall of Antonio Hernández, two of Salazar, points to María Jesús Montero

The Salazar affair is spreading like an oil spill. At the party leadership, we already assume without hesitation that “this was very poorly managed”, but we regret that “there are people who benefit from it”.

These “people” are synonymous with companions.

For years, Francisco Salazar He was the mentor of a new generation of politicians and advisors trained in Moncloa and the PSOE.

But there are two with whom he maintained particularly close relationships, both within the Andalusian executive of Maria Jesus Montero.

The first is the recently completed program Antonio Hernandez who was, until this Sunday, director of Political Coordination, a position he obtained thanks to his “personal friendship”, according to socialist sources, with Paco Salazar.

Both have known each other for years and maintain daily communication due to their great personal affinity.

Hernández also held a position within the executive of the Andalusian PSOE as secretary for data, analysis and foresight.

His departure was coordinated with the secretary general of the PSOE-A, Maria Jesus Monterowhich, as in the case of sexual harassment – ​​both that of Salazar and that of Torremolinos – is directly affected by the crisis within its federation.

The imprint of Sánchez’s former right-hand man on Andalusian socialism is considerable.

Not only did he occupy a seat within the Executive, but he is also the political godfather of the Paco Rodriguezthe current mayor of Dos Hermanas.

In this Sevillian town was born the sanchism Andalusian, sponsored by the previous advisor, the history Francisco ToscanoSalazar’s political father and great promoter of his career.

Indeed, the UCO is investigating whether Salazar held a position on the municipal council for which he earned 2,000 euros per month without working. The survey is focused between 2012 and 2017.

During these years, Toscano and Salazar distinguished themselves as the main anti-Susana Díaz bastion within the Andalusian PSOE.

After the departure of the historic mayor, the Nazarene city became governed by Paco Rodriguez who, thanks to Salazar’s encouragement, became the organizing secretary of the PSOE-A.

Less than six months before the Andalusian elections, whose polls leave the Socialists no chance, Maria Jesus Montero He is beginning to see how his executive is being challenged by the patronage and political alliances of the PSOE-A.

But the problems are not limited to Andalusia.

“Daggers” in Ferraz

For days, the PSOE has been a hotbed of rumors and reproaches about who could disclose the complaints against Paco Salazar and with what intention they are spreading now that there have been problems, such as the disappearance of texts from the Web.

The truth is that feminists have been outraged within the PSOE for some time.

The arrival of Santos Cerdán to the Secretariat of the Organization and the subsequent defenestration of Adriana Lastra They were accompanied by a purge of key positions in favor of equality, both in Congress and within the Executive.

The PSOE spokesperson at the Equality Commission was even removed from the lists, Laura Berja, to welcome Cerdán’s right hand, Juanfran Serranoaccusing the person being purged of being a “Hadrianist”.

Added to all this was unease about the government’s management. Irene Monteroespecially after the scandal the law of yes only is yes, belonging to a portfolio that socialists have always considered essential.

The recovery of the ministry was therefore essential for the PSOE after the 2023 elections. They entrusted the task to a then unknown Valladolid municipal councilor, Ana Redondowho also entered the Executive, even if his management pleased neither the president nor the party.

After the Seville Congress, during which the Santos CerdanRedondo was removed from the executive branch and promoted to the position of Pilar Bernabé as the new equality secretary, although she remained in the ministry.

Only a few months later, everything would explode: the audios of Jose Luis Abalos And Koldo Garcia the distribution of prostitutes outraged the party.

Added to this is the recording of Cerdán saying that, regarding orders, “it is written and then thrown away.”

On July 5, everything was ready at the PSOE for a federal committee to encourage Rébéca Torro as Organizing Secretary, accompanied by three deputies, among whom stood out Paco Salazar.

Everything indicated that he was going to be number three in the shadows and that he would be supported by Borja Cabezónone of his right hands, also offered as a complement.

This 45-year-old from Madrid has been considered for years as an eternal promise that has not been fully consolidated, partly because he did not know how to play his internal cards well.

During the 2017 primaries, he supported Susana Diaz and before that he held a key position in the management company that replaced Sánchez after he was fired by a Federal Committee.

It was therefore surprising that, upon his arrival at Moncloa, he was reinstated in a key position.

But there was one man who trusted him: Paco Salazar The “plumber” from Moncloa recruited him for his team. During 2018 and 2019, they worked side by side and connected perfectly under the orders of Ivan Redondochief of staff.

Moncloa even tried to promote Cabezón as director of the Casa de América in Madrid, a position he did not obtain due to opposition from the PP, who believed that it should be occupied by someone with a diplomatic career.

When Sánchez was looking for a team to replace Cerdán after his fall, Salazar recommended Borja Cabezón as deputy in the transition team he commanded Cristina Narbonne.

Then, in July, when the team led by Rébéca TorroCabezón remained a deputy.

“Borja is there for Paco”say party sources familiar with the details, who insist that “Salazar always protected him.”

Within the party, Cabezón is seen as one of the officials who could delay the process to protect his political godfather.

Thus, Sánchez, to stop the attacks against the Secretariat of the Organization, assumed “in the first person” the “errors” of the Salazar case, trying to prevent the stain from spreading and affecting an area restructured only five months ago.

The Secretariat of the Organization will have the final say once the Anti-Harassment Committee submits its report.

Salazar’s departure in July was taken advantage of by Antonio Hernando become known thanks to his wife, Anabel Mateoswhich was also listed as a joint. Also by the organizing secretary, Rebeca Torró, with whom he maintains good harmony.

During these months, Antonio Hernando gained power to the point of being considered “the shadow secretary of the Organization”. “Anabel is Hernando. This can be seen in her forms and even in her expressions,” they say of a federation.

This left Cabezón without a godfather and, in part, separated from daily life, assumed by the Mateos-Torró duo.

Salazar’s “children” in La Moncloa

The truth is that Salazar created a generation of young people with good CVs who worked under him and are now in positions of responsibility.

Hence Sánchez’s decision to fire Antonio Hernandezdirector of the Political Coordination Department of the Office of the Presidency of the Government, to avoid asking for responsibilities at a higher level. Something similar to what happened assuming Ferraz’s “errors” in the first person.

The person responsible for informing him of the dismissal was another of those who grew up with Salazar as his godfather alongside Iván Redondo: Diego Rubio, Sánchez’s current chief of staff, with an impeccable resume that includes training at Oxford and other universities.

It was Rubio who broke the news to Hernández. Also Maria Jesus Montero He informed him of his dismissal from the Andalusian executive.

These are careers that Salazar would have promoted and promoted.

What the PSOE feminists are now wondering is whether all these senior officials never saw anything strange in the behavior of Salazar – who was popular voice in Moncloa – or if they remained silent as if nothing had happened.