The issue of combating sexual harassment within Spain’s government institutions has returned to the spotlight following high-profile statements from Moncloa. For many Spaniards, this topic has become particularly sensitive amid recent scandals affecting the highest levels of power. Public expectations for change were high, but the reality has turned out to be much less transparent than officials had promised.
Moncloa publicly pledged to hold special training sessions for staff to raise awareness and prevent similar incidents in the future. However, months after the announcement, no official documents confirming such training could be found. Government portals show no records of contracts signed or instructors hired. This raises questions about the actual steps taken to address the problem.
Promises vs. reality
The government claims that the training was conducted in person and on a voluntary basis. Nevertheless, the program details, duration, and number of participants have not been disclosed. Moncloa complex employees interviewed on the matter said they had not received any information about the training and had not attended. The only noticeable change was the appearance of purple posters across the complex, urging awareness and the fight against sexism.
Within the PSOE party itself, following a series of scandals, there are discussions about implementing mandatory training courses for all members. After the incident involving Paco Salazar, who held a senior position in the party, Moncloa announced the launch of training for all staff. However, seven months later, no information about purchases or hiring of specialists related to these courses has appeared in any official registries.
Internal disagreements
Official government representatives insist that the courses did take place, and that instructors were specially trained professionals hired by the Ministry for the Presidency. However, not a single contract related to this initiative has been published. When seeking further details, the agencies refer queries to each other without providing specific answers.
Moncloa staff report that they were not informed of any training events. In recent weeks, posters urging the fight against harassment have appeared in the corridors of the complex. This was the very place where the scandal involving Paco Salazar, who was accused of inappropriate behavior toward colleagues, erupted earlier.
Plans and prospects
Despite the lack of transparency, PSOE representatives claim they intend to make this training mandatory for all party employees. Recently, after a meeting between Equality Secretary Pilar Bernabe and regional representatives, it was announced that a new program is being prepared. Details remain unclear for now, but similar training for companies and public institutions is usually conducted online and lasts up to 10 hours, including modules on victim support, complaint procedures, and response protocol development.
If the initiative goes ahead, PSOE will become the first party in Spain to introduce mandatory anti-harassment courses for its personnel. The decision comes amid a series of scandals, including those involving former executive committee secretary Paco Salazar and other senior party members who resigned following allegations of inappropriate behavior.
Response and consequences
Party members admit that prevention of sexist behavior has been insufficient. In this context, the party has announced a review and strengthening of the crisis management unit, as well as the involvement of legal experts to develop new measures. However, the lack of transparency over the implementation of already announced initiatives is causing mistrust among both staff and the general public.
In recent years, Spain has seen several high-profile scandals involving harassment in both public and private sectors. Each case brings renewed promises of reforms and preventative measures, but in practice, the implementation is often lacking in transparency. There have also been reports in other agencies and companies where the announced training programs were not supported by documentation or were limited to symbolic actions. Such situations spark public outcry and prompt calls for more explicit and open action from the authorities.
In a previous article, our editorial team took an in-depth look at the internal crisis within the PSOE sparked by the Paco Salazar case, analyzing why the party opted for drastic changes. For more details on the causes and consequences of these events, see our publication PSOE internal crisis: new mandatory training following a high-profile scandal.
