He “Salazar” earthquake He is on track to win the entire Sevillian quota in Ferraz. The last to fall was Antonio Hernandez (Seville, 1973), a man who has always worked in the shadows of the party and who is now defined … like a “soldier” Alfonso Rodriguez Gomez de Celisthe vice-president of the Congress of Deputies. The dismissal of the post of director of the Political Coordination Department of the Office of the Presidency of the Government for having concealed the alleged sexist attitudes of Francisco Salazarof which he was the right arm, exploded the influence of Seville in the socialist organization.
Hernández, still in second place politically, climbed the steps from Seville City Hall to La Moncloa. He joined the group in 1989, although it was with Alfredo Sánchez-Monteseirin at City Hall when he gained weight as an advisor in data analysis, statistics and surveys, as well as in communications. His sister was part of the local government, Nieves Hernándezas a financial and security advisor.
With the change of color in the Seville City Hall, Nieves became a senator and ended up being linked to the mayor of Dos Hermanas, Francisco Toscanothe Seville municipality where is located Peugeot itinerary to win the PSOE primaries. During this trip by the current President Sánchez in 2017, he was accompanied by three of his most intimate collaborators, all of whom are now being prosecuted for corruption: José Luis Ábalos, Santos Cerdán and Koldo García. But, as political sponsors, Sevillian politicians such as Toscano, Salazar and the Hernández brothers also promoted it.
A specialist in data analysis and electoral campaigns, he went from being an advisor to Monteseirín to being on the front line for Ferraz.
Before that, Antonio, already out of City Hall, had founded in 2011, with other socialists, the consulting firm Dialoguewhere Gómez de Celis’ associates worked. Among them was Rafael Pinedacurrently investigated by the UCO for the urban planning coup he carried out with his wife during the acquisition of public land, in an alleged crime of influence peddling and corruption in business.
With the help of Gómez de Celis, leader of the socialist clan who supported Pedro Sánchez against Susana Díaz from the beginning, he made the definitive leap towards the party structure. Presidency of the Government in 2018. This publicist by profession, and not by career, acted as Sanchismo plumbermore than in the window. And it was thus, thanks to his work as an internal consultant and his experience in campaigning, that he was integrated into the Moncloa cabinet, occupying different positions until finally being named director of the Political Coordination Department.
In this promotion, he combined his practical training with in-depth knowledge of party structures, both at the municipal, regional and state level. His work in electoral campaigns is highlighted and, at the same time, his link with the Andalusian PSOE, with close collaboration with Maria Jesus Monteroelements that facilitated his rise in the hierarchy of advisors in Madrid.
Worshipful Master of the Lodge
His promotion in Pedro Sánchez’s close circle followed the same pattern as the one he achieved in his dressing room. Because Antonio Hernández is a recognized mason. He joined it in 2005, where he entered as an apprentice and rose through the ranks: first associate, then teacher, until his appointment ‘worshipful master’, leading position in Freemasonry. Although, as he himself admitted in various interviews, his activity in the Hiram lodge of Seville Obreros had diminished due to his work at Moncloa, Hernández knew how to weave the power relations that these initiatory practices nourish.
However, his fall, like his meteoric rise, was linked to his godfather Paco Salazar. The complaint from the victims of the sexual abuse allegations pointed directly to the Moncloa Freemason. They say that he gave “gaslight” to his companions who suffered the alleged sexist practices of their friend. It is for this reason that Sánchez, who always followed his political advice, ended up using him as a scapegoat and as a firewall in the Salazar affair.
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