A group of socialist PSdeG activists, including mayors, deputies and other civil servants, launched a manifesto against the cases of sexual violence affecting the PSOE and in which they demand firm, transparent and coherent action to “maintain the trust of citizens”.
The women signatories underline that the recently known facts of sexual harassment as well as the internal complaints presented to the PSOE against institutional and organic positions “cause astonishment, shame and inevitable disaffection” with regard to the Socialist Party, which they describe as a party “which has feminism engraved in its soul”.
The PSdeG activists, among whom are the government subdelegate in La Coruña María Rivas López or the mayor of La Coruña, Inés Rey, highlight in their writings the resignation of Silvia Fraga from her position as Secretary of Equality of the Galician party “after carrying out exemplary work” and emphasize: “She cannot leave us impassive”.
“We deeply regret the resignation of Silvia Fraga,” says the manifesto, which describes her decision as an act of “feminist commitment.” He also defends Fraga’s work and career “against certain information or interpretations that we want to slip in and which do not correspond to the truth.”
Socialist women, who describe socialist activism as “a vital commitment and a way of understanding life, justice and democracy”, are addressing activism, its supporters and citizens to express their support for victims of sexual harassment who have denounced these behaviors which they describe as “sexist and criminal”. They also emphasize that “reporting these behaviors is an act of courage which must always benefit from collective and institutional support”.
The manifesto considers transparency “essential” in the resolution of these complaints and requires guaranteeing “rigorous” processes always focused on the protection of victims.
“Faced with any report of events likely to undermine the dignity or integrity of women, the response must be rapid, clear and energetic, based on exemplarity and political responsibility, particularly on the part of those who occupy organic positions”, they underline, before recalling that “zero tolerance is not a motto”, but rather “a democratic requirement which allows neither exceptions nor nuances”.
The women of the PSdeG, “out of loyalty to the party and its principles”, defend the need to clarify the facts, protect the victims and preserve the integrity of the institutions, from which they demand “firm, transparent and coherent” action to maintain the confidence of citizens and “demonstrate that there is no place for impunity nor for any form of violence against women”.
In addition, they question any action “that protects or relativizes sexual harassment and machismo”, which, according to them, “have no place” within the Socialist Party.
Discontent among members of the Galician PSOE has continued to grow in recent days after complaints of sexual harassment against the former president of the Lugo Delegation, José Tomé, who presented his resignation this Thursday. While the Secretary for Equality of the PSdeG resigned, the leader of the Galician socialists, José Ramón Gómez Besteiro, admitted to having had information about the complaints of sexual harassment in October.
In addition to Besteiro, they were aware of the events that had occurred since then and two other leaders of the Socialists met this third person: Lara Méndez, who is secretary of organization in Galicia, and Pilar García Porto, secretary of organization in the province of Lugo and mayor of Antas de Ulla. None of them are among the signatories of the manifesto.
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