A high-profile case involving Socialist MP Lorena Morales has concluded in Madrid. Morales was accused of violating electoral law after posting a message on Facebook urging people to vote for PSOE on the day of the 2024 European elections. The Civil and Criminal Chamber of the Madrid High Court (TSJM) decided to dismiss the criminal case, finding that Morales’s actions were not serious enough to warrant criminal prosecution.
However, the case materials have been forwarded to the Central Electoral Commission. It is now up to this body to decide whether the post constitutes an administrative offense and whether to impose a fine.
Case Timeline
The story began on June 9, 2024, when Morales posted a photo from a polling station on her Facebook page. In the caption, she included the hashtag “#VotaPSOE,” which sparked heated reactions in political circles. By September, the court had agreed to consider a complaint against her, despite the prosecutor’s office being against launching a criminal case. Prosecutors argued that Morales’s actions did not amount to a criminal offense and could only be treated as an administrative violation.
The situation was further complicated by a similar incident involving a representative of another party — Rocío Albert, an advisor from the People’s Party (PP). She also posted a photo from a polling station, but with the hashtag ‘#votaPP’ on the social network X (formerly Twitter). However, her actions did not result in legal proceedings, raising questions about equal treatment of politicians from different parties.
Reaction and consequences
In November 2024, Morales was officially notified of the investigation right at the entrance to the regional parliament. This way of delivering the documents was seen as unusual and drew additional attention. The complaint itself claimed that the deputy’s publication violated the electoral law, as campaigning on election day is prohibited.
Morales did not hide her relief following the court’s decision. She thanked the prosecutor’s office for their support and noted that she had felt vulnerable due to the lack of response to similar actions by representatives of other parties. The deputy stated that she was prepared to accept any decision from the Central Electoral Commission.
Court’s arguments
During the hearing, TSJM judges noted that the post could have had some influence on voters, given the author’s status and the chosen platform. However, after examining all the circumstances, the court sided with the prosecution: the post did not have the real capacity to significantly influence voters’ will, and therefore did not constitute a criminal offense.
Ultimately, the criminal case was closed, and the further fate of the matter now depends on the decision of the electoral commission. If the commission considers the publication a violation, Morales could face an administrative fine.
