La Moncloa faces a “dilemma” on how to manage complaints of harassment that reach the PSOE through internal channels. They recognize that there was a lack of diligence in the case of Francisco Salazar, a mistake they do not want to repeat. But now, after new complaints against the president of the Provincial Delegation of Lugo, José Tomé, they assure that they need a minimum margin to act with guarantees and without haste. Although the government considers it “logical” that more complaints arise after the Salazar affair “moves the board”, it warns that it cannot transform the mechanism into a “Big Brother”, where each anonymous complaint triggers sudden dismissals without having time to carry out minimal verification.
The case of Francisco Salazar, who is under investigation for alleged sexual harassment against Moncloa workers, has for days monopolized the internal and external debate at the PSOE. To this was added shortly after another complaint against the socialist leader of Torremolinos and, this Wednesday, several accusations of harassment against the president of the Provincial Delegation of Lugo, José Tomé. They have all already been removed from the party, which attributes this trickle of cases to some sort of ““Me too”. Moncloa and Ferraz regret the situation, but at the same time consider it positive that the complainants feel confident enough to take the step and make it public.
But they also warn that all the speed required of them to react to anonymous complaints poses a problem for them, because they need “a little time” to carry out an investigation and not make hasty decisions. In fact, although the party acted within 48 hours in the case of the complaints against José Tomé, it decided that his suspension would be precaution until the findings report is completed. “The PSOE does not minimize the seriousness of harassment and will never protect those who practice it. respects the presumption of innocence and established protocols“, underline official party sources.
The “dilemma” facing the government is also reflected in an internal debate within the PSOE. Some MPs argue that the anti-harassment protocol – expressly activated five months ago, after the complaints against Salazar became known – requires adjustments in the corresponding body to fully guarantee the protection of victims. Others, however, argue that the only way to ensure full guarantees is to transmit each complaint directly to the Public Prosecutor’s Office. This option was recently ruled out by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, who affirmed that he could only transfer them to the public prosecutor’s office if the parties concerned decided it themselves.
Legal sources say the party could file a complaint with the prosecutor’s office if it identifies evidence of a crime. From Moncloa, however, it is assured that the path to follow in the case of Salazar has not yet been decided. Currently, they are inclined to consult the complainants once the report is completed, in addition to knowing what actions they wish to take, and to offer them alternatives, such as support to cover legal assistance costs during the process.
This is not a formula that convinces all socialists. Some voices from the Directory itself suggest that it is not the party that should determine the guilt of the accused, but rather justice. They emphasize that this channel is not safe since anonymous complaints can be made and its own committee can determine whether they are founded. “When they enter, they must report to the public prosecutor’s office”they insist.
La Moncloa recognizes that the situation is “very delicate” and that nothing has yet been decided, because the “damage” if it is brought before the public prosecutor’s office without the consent of the victims can be “very high”. This is why they insist that the channel of anonymous complaints places them at a crossroads, also taking into account the “public ridicule” if the accused are singled out without “having a minimum of guarantees”. “The least you can do is ask. We can’t make a Big Brother“, they say from Sánchez’s executive.
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