Pedro Sánchez has commented for the first time on the high-profile case of Paco Salazar, his former confidant and close associate. Salazar became embroiled in scandal after several women came forward with allegations of harassment in June of this year. The President of Spain admitted that the party made a serious mistake by not contacting the victims for six months, despite the fact that two of them had officially filed complaints through a special channel.
Sánchez emphasized that he takes personal responsibility for this oversight. He explained that the party was legally unable to approach the prosecutor’s office since the reports were submitted anonymously. According to him, only the victims themselves can initiate an investigation. However, PSOE now intends to expedite the process and provide all necessary support to the victims.
Leadership response
Deputy Prime Minister María Jesús Montero also acknowledged that the situation was handled “very poorly,” and that the party failed to provide adequate support to the victims. Her statement comes amid mounting criticism of the PSOE leadership for its slow and insufficiently transparent response to the allegations against Salazar.
Sánchez noted that since Salazar left La Moncloa, he has had no contact with him. The president categorically denied any suggestion of collusion or attempts to cover up the case, stressing that he learned of the situation only from the press.
Impact on the party
This is the first time Sánchez has openly discussed such a sensitive issue with journalists, one that directly affects his reputation. Similar scandals have previously rocked the party when other trusted associates of the president came under scrutiny. Sánchez admits that the situation has caused him significant frustration and delivered a serious blow to the party’s credibility.
Nonetheless, he expressed confidence that the current crisis can be overcome. According to him, PSOE has already reached out to the victims and is now acting with full transparency. Sánchez believes that most allies continue to support the government and have no interest in early elections.
Political context
The president specifically noted that no negotiations are taking place with the Junts party on this issue, despite rumors. He added that there is a list of unresolved matters which the government is now working to address in order to restore trust and strengthen the coalition.
The scandal surrounding Salazar has again raised doubts about the internal communication and crisis management methods within PSOE. The intraparty discussion on how to respond to such allegations is ongoing, while public attention to the issue remains high.
Pedro Sánchez is the current President of the Government of Spain and leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). Since 2018, he has served as Prime Minister, repeatedly facing political crises and scandals within his party. Paco Salazar was one of his closest allies until recently, when he faced allegations of inappropriate behavior. Sánchez is known for his stance on transparency and support for victims, but this case has posed a serious challenge to his political reputation.
