Tensions are rising within the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) over the protracted handling of allegations against former party official Francisco Salazar. Even those who have traditionally supported Pedro Sánchez are now openly voicing dissatisfaction with the actions of the party secretariat led by Rebeca Torró. Internal party chats are boiling over: debates and harsh criticism of the leadership have become an everyday reality for many activists and deputies.
Many believe the party is trying to cover up the alleged harassment incidents involving Salazar. Within PSOE, there is a growing sense that the leadership is not only failing to manage the crisis but is making it worse by delaying decisions and failing to provide clear explanations to party members or the public.
Internal conflict
Open discontent is now being expressed not only by rank-and-file members but also by those who have always been loyal to Sánchez. Internal discussions indicate that frustration over the Salazar situation has even surpassed the reaction to previous corruption scandals, which saw the arrests of former party secretaries José Luis Ábalos and Santos Cerdán.
In recent days, party chats have featured messages from activists who previously supported Sánchez but are now openly disappointed. They call the situation ‘shameful’ and are convinced that the leadership tried to cover up the incident to protect their ally.
Leadership response
Pedro Sánchez recently admitted that the party made a mistake by taking too long to reach out to the women who filed complaints. He explained the delay was due to a lack of staff in the anti-harassment office handling the case. Sánchez also emphasized that he has not had any contact with Salazar since Salazar was suspended.
However, these explanations failed to convince many party members. The situation has been particularly controversial after a photo surfaced of government spokeswoman Pilar Alegría dining with Salazar at a Madrid restaurant when the allegations were already known and Salazar had been formally suspended. Many believe this image undermined trust in the leadership and gave the impression that actions are only being taken for appearances’ sake.
Calls for action
Within the party, there are calls for the immediate conclusion of the investigation and a final decision regarding Salazar’s case. Some members of the federal executive committee acknowledge that the party has not acted swiftly enough and failed to provide adequate support to the victims. They are demanding that the organization’s secretariat, led by Torro, resolve the issue without further delay.
Although Salazar has already been expelled from the party and cannot be formally subject to internal sanctions, many insist on the need for a public and transparent conclusion to the process. In their view, this is the only way to restore trust in the party and show that such incidents will not go unpunished.
Consequences for the party
The Salazar scandal has become a major test for the PSOE. Internal divisions and public criticism, even from Sánchez’s most loyal supporters, point to a deep crisis of confidence. Many fear that further delays in resolving the case could lead to an even greater loss of credibility for the party and strengthen the opposition ahead of key elections.
On Friday, the party leadership tried to ease tensions by sending an internal memo acknowledging mistakes and detailing the steps taken in recent months. However, for many, this was not enough—they are demanding not just explanations, but concrete action.
In case you didn’t know, Francisco Salazar is a former high-ranking PSOE official who found himself at the center of scandal following harassment allegations. His name has already come up more than once in high-profile internal party investigations. In recent years, the party under Pedro Sánchez has faced several crises related to ethics and internal discipline. Rebeca Torro, who heads the organization’s secretariat, is now under intense scrutiny both from her colleagues and the public. Any decision on the Salazar case could prove decisive for the party’s future.
Let us remind you that we previously reported on this in the article “Pedro Sánchez admitted PSOE’s mistake in the Salazar case and denied any collusion». It was then that the Socialist leader publicly admitted for the first time that the party had failed to contact the victims in time, but rejected accusations of attempting to cover up the incident. For more details and Sánchez’s reaction, see our previous report.
