Francisco Salazar, a close ally of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and a top figure in the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), has resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment.
Salazar, who was was to be appointed by the Federal Committee of the PSOE as deputy to the Organisation Secretariat, stepped down after left-wing newspaper El Diario published accusations by women in the party alleging inappropriate behaviour, sexual harassment and abuse of power.
Late on July 4, just ahead of a major party meeting, El Diario published the story relating to the allegations against Salazar.
The news outlet spoke to women who worked with him, many in their early 30s, and they accused him of allegedly making lewd and obscene comments on their clothing and bodies, untimely messages with invitations to dine alone outside working hours, or offers to stay overnight at his home.
One young volunteer from the PSOE, and a relative of a veteran party leader, accused him of “sleazy behaviour”.
According to the report, he allegedly used sexualised language at work towards his female subordinates, who testified anonymously to the newspaper, reportedly out of fear of possible reprisals, which they claimed also stopped them from seeking work transfers.
Salazar allegedly punished the women working for him when they refused to meet with him, mainly in the form of reduced job responsibilities and cutting prospects for political or professional advancement, they told the newspaper.
One woman claimed she received warnings from her co-workers when she first arrived about the “dangers” of being alone with the boss or accepting invitations outside of working hours.
“Dozens of mid-level officials or simple grassroots members assert that there has been a clamour, spreading like an oil stain for many years, surrounding the figure of Paco Salazar, one of the most powerful men in Ferraz during Sánchez’s terms,” El Diario wrote.
“This is why a large part of the Socialist Party received the news of his recent appointment by the PM Sánchez as adjunct to the Secretary of Organisation of the PSOE with ‘dread’.”
In a reaction to El Diario, Salazar denied any wrongdoing.
“I keep thinking about it and I can’t find a single moment in my life where I’ve done anything stupid.
“I haven’t done anything with anyone. I have a lifelong partner; maybe back in my university days … but I don’t understand where this is coming from. I have never had a relationship or any dealings with any female colleague, ever,” he told the newspaper.
“I’ve racked my brain trying to think and it seems incredible to me. I keep wondering if I messed up and said something inappropriate to a colleague, but honestly, I can’t find anything.”
Interference podcast Episode 2. @ThatAlexWoman and @JustinStares are joined by Spanish MEP @hermanntertsch to talk about the prostitution scandal that has hit Spain's ruling coalition. pic.twitter.com/qrIzCG3ypj
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) June 28, 2025
Following the publication of the explosive story, Salazar voluntarily resigned from his position in the new leadership of the PSOE and has requested an investigation to clarify the accusations against him.
The PSOE accepted his resignation and stressed there were no official complaints against Sánchez’s adviser.
The internal investigation, requested by Salazar, was set to begin immediately, according to party sources. His vacancy in the organisational area of the PSOE would remain unfilled for now.
Salazar was seen as a powerful figure within the PSOE, instrumental in Sánchez’s success. He was also said to be close to José Luis Ábalos and a Santos Cerdán, both of whom have been accused of alleged corruption, with Cerdán being remanded in custody on July 1.
The party was also hit by misogyny and sexism scandals after recorded conversations between two leading Socialist figures were leaked in which they were heard discussing which prostitutes they would like to employ.
Sánchez addressed an audience at the PSOE’s headquarters in Madrid on July 5, where he intended to unveil measures aimed at alleviating concerns among party members regarding the damage to its reputation and its future viability.
He was forced to delay his speech one hour and called for any woman suffering sexual abuse to use the channels provided by the party to report it.
“If we believe that a woman’s body is not for sale, then there can be no room for behaviour that contradicts this belief,” he said, without mentioning Salazar, Reuters reported.
Sánchez announced several measures against graft, including party reforms “to avoid excessive concentration of power” and providing anonymity for whistleblowers. He indicated no doubts about his intentions to govern.
“The captain does not abandon ship when rough seas come, he stays to weather the storm,” he said.
New details have emerged in a corruption scandal involving individuals linked to Spain’s Socialist Party, with authorities suspecting they siphoned millions of euros in public funds. https://t.co/Bhfl1Hdo8f
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) June 30, 2025
