A new scandal has erupted within the Galician branch of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). Four women connected to the party have accused the president of the Lugo Diputación and provincial socialist leader, José Tomé, of sexual harassment. According to them, he engaged in inappropriate touching, sent explicit messages, and offered jobs in exchange for sexual favors.
The women used the party’s internal channel to file their complaints. In their statements, they described not only isolated incidents but also a pattern of repeated behavior by Tomé. The allegations include persistent phone calls, unwelcome physical contact, and job offers contingent on personal services. One of the victims claims the provincial head made no distinction regarding women’s status—activists, journalists, deputies, and even ordinary party supporters were at risk.
Party response
The claimants’ associates say that information about these incidents was brought to the attention of the Galician PSOE leadership. However, the victims themselves say they did not feel supported or protected. Meanwhile, party representatives insist that no official complaints have been made to the courts, through internal channels, or via the special anti-discrimination hotline.
The Secretary-General of the Galician Socialists, José Ramón Gómez Besteiro, stated that he was unaware of such accusations. He emphasized that he had not received a single complaint on this issue. He suggested this situation may be related to the way the anonymous channel operates: reports are only forwarded to the regional leadership once officially confirmed by the complainants, so some cases might have remained with the party’s central office.
Tomé’s position in the party
José Tomé holds several key positions: he not only heads the Lugo Deputation, but is also a member of the PSOE Federal Committee, leads the provincial socialist organization, and serves as mayor of Monforte. In recent weeks, there have been rumors about possible complaints involving him, but until recently they had not been confirmed publicly.
The scandal erupted amid other high-profile harassment cases within the party. In particular, the PSOE is still debating the investigation involving former senior official Paco Salazar. Discontent within the party is growing, and some members are demanding that the leadership speed up proceedings and take measures to prevent similar situations.
Crisis of confidence
The accusations against Tomé coincided with the fallout from the Salazar case, which had already led to a serious crisis of trust within the party. Paco Salazar was dismissed from his post as secretary for coordination in the government after the allegations against him came to light. It was later revealed that the investigation into the case had been concealed, and some complaints had disappeared from official channels.
PSOE’s Secretary for Equality, Pilar Bernabé, acknowledged that mistakes were made in the handling of complaints in the Salazar case. Within the party, there is ongoing discussion about whether Salazar and his inner circle may have influenced the course of the investigation. Some PSOE members believe this was the reason the process was delayed and some reports were left unresolved.
Internal party tensions
A surge in similar scandals has intensified internal divisions within PSOE. Party leaders face pressure from both rank-and-file members and senior officials who are demanding transparency and decisive action. The effectiveness of internal mechanisms for dealing with harassment has become a subject of heated debate.
At the same time, some party members are dissatisfied with the way the leadership responds to such accusations. Some believe the party does not provide sufficient protection for victims or ensure proper investigations. This undermines trust in the system and sparks new waves of criticism.
In case you didn’t know, José Tomé is one of the most influential figures in the Galician branch of PSOE. He oversees the province of Lugo, serves on the party’s executive bodies, and is the mayor of Monforte. Over the years, Tomé has repeatedly been in the spotlight of the media and political opponents, but this is the first time he has faced such serious accusations. In recent months, internal party scandals involving senior socialists have become a major topic of discussion in Spanish politics.
