The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) is continuing an internal investigation into Francisco Salazar, who previously held a key position within the party. Although Salazar recently officially terminated his membership, the proceedings regarding the allegations against him have not been halted. Party representatives emphasize that leaving the party does not affect the investigation process.
Two women, both members of the PSOE, have filed anonymous complaints against Salazar, accusing him of harassment. These reports were not removed from the system, despite a temporary technical issue on the complaints platform. According to party representatives, the outage was caused by automated personal data protection measures, not by error or any attempt to conceal information. Access to the platform for the complainants will be fully restored in the near future.
Technical details
PSOE leadership notes that all complaints submitted through the special platform are automatically forwarded to the office responsible for addressing harassment. Even if complainants do not see their reports in their personal account, this does not mean that they have disappeared or have not been reviewed. The party assures that none of the complaints have been deleted, and the system is currently being improved to increase transparency and user convenience.
Questions about the platform’s operation arose after submitted applications stopped appearing. The party explained that this was due to measures to protect the anonymity and personal data of the applicants. Technical work is expected to be completed in the coming weeks to restore full access to information for all parties involved.
Leadership’s position
An official PSOE representative emphasized that the party was the first in the country to implement a protocol against harassment, which came into effect last summer. According to her, even after Salazar left the party, the investigative committee is obliged to complete its work and prepare a final report. This document will be submitted to the organizational secretariat and to all parties involved in the process.
The party acknowledges that the anonymous nature of the complaints complicates the investigation but considers this a necessary measure to protect the applicants. PSOE leadership assures that the procedure will be completed, and all parties will receive the results of the investigation. If necessary, protocols and procedures will be reviewed and improved.
Next steps
After the current stage of the investigation is completed, additional meetings are planned with the applicants and with Salazar himself. This will help clarify details and compare accounts, as required by the party’s internal regulations. The commission is expected to finalize its report in the coming weeks.
The PSOE emphasizes that its main priority is to ensure the safety and anonymity of everyone involved in the process. The party intends to continue improving its internal mechanisms so that similar situations are handled as transparently and efficiently as possible in the future.
