The PSOE in Badajoz has condemned a violent threat against city councillor Concha Baños, who received an explicit social media message wishing her to be sexually assaulted. The incident followed Baños’ public comments on homophobia and racism, renewing debate over the abuse women face in Spanish politics.
Baños reported the threat to the courts, saying the message was posted openly rather than from an anonymous account. She described it as one of the most degrading forms of intimidation a woman can experience. The sender used his real identity, she said, making it easier for her to file a formal complaint. Baños described the threat as part of a broader pattern of hostility directed at women who participate in public life.
In an interview with Cadena SER, Baños said she pursued legal action both because of her own experience and out of responsibility toward other women facing similar abuse. She said hate and threats should not silence women or lead them out of public spaces. Verbal abuse and intimidation, she added, have become routine for many women in politics, often coming from anonymous or fake profiles.
Baños, who works as an equality agent, said her professional and personal commitment to defending women’s rights compelled her to act. She argued that normalising abuse undermines the dignity and freedom of those targeted. Intimidation and humiliation, she said, should not be accepted as part of political life.
The local PSOE group and the party’s Badajoz branch have expressed support for Baños and condemned the threats and insults. They said no one should face intimidation for participating in public life or expressing their views. The party called on political forces and society to reject threats against public representatives, regardless of political affiliation. It said it trusted the justice system and law enforcement to clarify the facts and establish responsibility.
Support has also come from outside politics. The feminist association LIS praised Baños’ decision to report the incident, calling it an act of courage. It also emphasised the role complaints can play in combating digital violence and preventing abusive behaviour from becoming commonplace.
Official figures offer context on gender-related cases in Spain’s courts, but they measure a different category of violence. The Consejo General del Poder Judicial recorded 55,712 complaints involving gender-based violence in the second quarter of 2026, up 9.81% from the same period a year earlier. Figures reported by ElPlural also counted 50,106 women as victims, equivalent to 20 per 10,000 women. These figures concern violence by current or former partners, not online threats against elected officials.
In the same quarter, courts issued 16,553 judgments in these proceedings, including 13,676 convictions, information from figures reported by Público. Of the women recorded as victims, 5,732, or 11.44%, invoked the legal dispensation from testifying against an alleged abuser. These statistics describe the wider judicial caseload, not abuse directed at women in politics. The Badajoz case has nevertheless prompted renewed calls for women to participate in public life without threats or intimidation.
