Paco Salazar, a native of Montellano (Seville), found himself at the center of a major scandal at the age of 57—an event that shook the very foundations of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). After two female staff members from his team at the Prime Minister’s residence accused him of sexual harassment and abuse of power, the party was left in shock. The women reported inappropriate behavior, saying Salazar made explicit gestures and humiliating comments. Following the publication of these allegations, Salazar immediately resigned and left the party.
Within the PSOE, this incident became the last straw for many, especially after a series of other scandals involving high-profile party figures. Salazar, who had been set to take a leading role in the federal leadership, suddenly disappeared from public view. His closest colleagues claim he completely denies all accusations but chose not to defend himself publicly, preferring instead to step out of the spotlight. On the day the news broke, his friend and former mayor of Jun, José Antonio Rodríguez Salas, drove Salazar from Madrid to his home in Dos Hermanas. Since then, Salazar has not been in contact, has stayed out of the public eye, and has avoided all media.
Path to Power
Before the scandal, Salazar was seen as someone who rose from being mayor of a small town to becoming a trusted confidant of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. His career began in Montellano, where he served as mayor until 2008. He then worked in various roles: in the Andalusian government, at the municipal company Emasesa in Seville, and later at the Dos Hermanas racetrack via the local employment office. It was there he grew close to Quico Toscano, an influential socialist and Sánchez supporter.
In 2012, Salazar started working in the Dos Hermanas administration, where he remained until 2017. During this time, both he and Toscano faced a complaint from the VOX party accusing them of embezzlement, influence peddling, and administrative misconduct. However, municipal authorities claimed Salazar was using legitimate vacation days and compensatory leave to participate in Sánchez’s election campaign. When Sánchez decided to run again for PSOE’s secretary general, Salazar became one of his key allies, organizing the campaign and coordinating with activists nationwide.
Internal conflicts
After Sánchez’s victory in the party’s 2017 primaries, Salazar secured a position at the party headquarters on Ferraz Street. There, he quickly came into the spotlight, especially after meeting political consultant Iván Redondo. Together, they worked on data analysis and strategy development for the party. However, this alliance led to tension with other influential figures such as José Luis Ábalos and Santos Cerdán, as well as Adriana Lastra.
With Sánchez coming to power following a successful vote of no confidence, Salazar, along with Redondo, moved to the prime minister’s residence. They were behind both successful and failed political maneuvers, including the repeat elections in 2019 and the Madrid campaign in 2021. In 2021, after another government reshuffle, Salazar left Moncloa and briefly stepped into the shadows, taking a job at the La Zarzuela racetrack. However, just a year later, Sánchez brought him back, appointing him as head of political planning.
Reputation and relationships
Within the party, Salasar was considered someone whom Sánchez trusted implicitly. He was one of the few with direct access to the Prime Minister and could discuss any issue with him. Colleagues noted his diligence and loyalty but also spoke of the envy and tension his close ties to the leadership created. Opinions on his professional abilities were mixed: some saw him as a mediocre analyst, while others considered him a talented strategist, able to quickly process information and draw conclusions.
Salasar’s team noted his peculiar rituals: for instance, on election day he would flip a coin to boost colleagues’ spirits, but never looked at the result. However, behind a façade of professionalism, there were other sides to him—many recalled his short temper, harsh remarks, and ambiguous attitude toward subordinates, especially young women. Some employees recounted instances when he made inappropriate jokes or behaved downright rudely.
Aftermath of the scandal
The accusations against Salasar have been a major blow for the PSOE, especially in light of other recent scandals. His sudden resignation and departure from the party sparked a strong reaction among party members and the public. Many are questioning how someone with such a background and reputation managed to reach such a high position in the prime minister’s inner circle. Internal party discussions and searches for answers continue, while Salasar himself has chosen to disappear from the public eye, offering no comments and making no attempts to defend himself.
