The “Salazar case” obscures the rise of Pilar Bernabé in Valencia and complicates the PSOE’s electoral strategy

The scandal placed her in the eye of the hurricane, both her and the secretary of the Organization of Socialists, the Valencian Rebeca Torró., for the management of complaints affecting the former Moncloa advisor.

Bernabé is the equality secretary of the PSOE, a sector responsible for ensure that this type of situation does not occur or, failing that, to investigate reported cases. The second is responsible for rights and guarantees commission training.

He Salazar affair broke out more than five months ago, when the former socialist official himself, called to the post of deputy of the Organization and, therefore, Torró’s right handwas dismissed from the responsibilities he held after various information published by The newspaper.

These reported degrading sexual treatment towards the women with whom he worked: comments on the clothes they worehas inappropriate messages discolored and that the accused himself walked with the pants fly lowered and he approached the women as they sat in his office.

The party’s anti-harassment commission then received two anonymous complaints on its channel. But during those five months, no one from the agency contacted the victims.

Even the two complaints ended disappear from the IT platform in which the progress of the internal investigation was supposed to be recorded.

From Ferraz acknowledged this Friday in a statement to the activist that “communication with anonymous complainants” there was no “up to par” and needed to be “improved”.

They sang “mea culpa” and pledged to improve in the future. A public recognition which, ultimately, represents an amendment to all the actions of the two leaders.

The scandal only tarnishes the political rise of the government delegate in the Valencian Community, who Pedro Sanchez He promised to lead this area on December 1, 2024, in a move that was interpreted as a recognition for his management in the dana which hit the province of Valencia just a month beforeon October 29.

This appointment was confirmation of leadership in the middle of the construction process. The national leadership thus strengthens its political profile: it takes advantage of its growing visibility in the dana and entrusts it with the opening of a new stage to the point of nominates her as a candidate for mayor of Valencia for 2027.

However, Salazar is now a point of inflection. Although Bernabé herself asked for “forgiveness” last Thursday (on Friday she preferred to avoid the press until Ferraz recognized the mistakes made in the afternoon), the truth is that this has already become a stain on her career. a year after taking the reins of a particularly relevant area for a party which is the flag of feminism.

The current crisis has undermined his leadership just when his public image was being consolidated in the city.

PP offensive

So far, her figure He barely had to face the challenges of the PPparty which will be its main rival in the municipal elections in a year and a half.

The popular party had focused its offensive speech against the government on the lack of information on Aémet and the Hydrographic Confederation of Júcar (CHJ) on Dana’s day. But the message has not really penetrated society.

However, the Salazar affair changed everything and gave the popular ammunition to undertake a change of strategy and face the future meeting at the polls.

The Popular Party of the Valencian Community already registered this Friday a proposal in The Cortés in which he asks the Executive dismissal of Pilar Bernabé as a Government delegate in the Community. They accuse him of “silence” the matter and to maintain a “negligent” attitude by failing to protect victims.

“It’s a inappropriate conduct of a person who exercises a public service, in which one of its main functions is to protect the free exercise of rights and freedoms, and not to try to silence complaints”, explained the popular in their writing, which they also accompanied by a critical video of MPs from his bench.

For its spokesperson in the regional Parliament, Fernando Pasteurthe revealed information reveals “the mismanagement of Torró and Bernabé, who are responsible for protecting the free exercise of rights and freedoms.” The pastor also criticized the fact that “no one contacted the victims until November”, almost six months after the events.

Barnabas’ opposition has already found its Achilles heeland all the failures that occurred in the protocol against sexual harassment of the PSOE (and for which he is ultimately responsible), will undoubtedly be the target on which the PP will shoot during the next electoral campaign in Valencia.