An internal conflict within the Galician wing of the Socialist Party is intensifying. Two former members of the A Coruña city council — Eva Martínez Acón and Esther Fontán — have filed complaints against the city’s mayor, Inés Rey, and her deputy, José Manuel Lage Tuñas. They allege that between 2020 and 2022 they were subjected to systematic psychological pressure and workplace humiliation.
According to Acón, who previously headed the local Socialist branch and oversaw employment issues, she repeatedly faced rude treatment, shouting, and insults. She believes the reason was her insistence that the leadership transfer part of their salaries to the party fund, as required by the statutes. Fontán, who served as environmental advisor, also spoke of ongoing conflicts, loss of authority, and emotional exhaustion. On one occasion, she even required urgent medical attention during a city council meeting.
Mayor’s response
Inés Rey publicly denied the allegations, stating that the former officials were misusing the internal complaints channel. She said this was not a case of genuine harassment but rather political disagreements. The mayor also stressed that both women were acting openly, even though the channel is intended for anonymous messages, and accused them of seeking personal revenge after being excluded from the new council.
Rey added that if her former colleagues had legitimate grounds for their complaints, they would have gone to court. She reminded that false accusations are punishable by law in Spain and expressed confidence in her own position. In her view, the absence of official lawsuits indicates that the claims are unfounded.
Reasons for Complaints
Acón noted in her complaint that she chose not to go to court due to concerns for her professional reputation and the severe stress she was experiencing at that time. She admitted that only after recent scandals within the party did she fully realize the gravity of the situation and decide to share her experience.
Fontán, for her part, explained that she decided to come forward after seeing Inés Rey speak out about defending women and condemn other party leaders for similar accusations. According to her, the mayor used others’ pain for political purposes, which was the final straw.
Party Response
The complaints from both former officials had previously been submitted to the party’s central office, but according to them, there was no response. Fontán even sent a detailed letter to the then organizational secretary, requesting action. She expressed disappointment that the party failed to address her appeals or take any steps to protect its members.
Now Inés Rey and her deputy have become the third and fourth members of the Galician socialists to face complaints from female colleagues in recent days. The two others involved—José Tomé and the mayor of Barbadás, Xosé Carlos Valcárcel—have already left the party.
Internal procedures
The leadership of the regional socialist branch is refraining from comment for now, citing the lack of official notifications from those affected. The federal center clarified that the internal complaints channel is intended solely for cases of sexual harassment, while labor disputes should be handled by the ethics and guarantees committee.
The scandal surrounding the accusations against the mayor of A Coruña and her deputy is the latest episode in a string of internal conflicts that have rocked the Galician socialists in recent weeks. The question of how the party will respond to such situations in the future remains unanswered.
