PSOE Faces Turmoil as Antonio Hernández Dismissed Amid Harassment Allegations

The Spanish government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has dismissed Antonio Hernández, director of the Political Coordination Department in the Cabinet of the Presidency, amidst a scandal involving sexual harassment allegations against Francisco Salazar, a former advisor with close ties to Hernández. Hernández has been accused of complicity and attempting to cover up Salazar's misconduct towards women within the PSOE party. While Hernández denies these accusations, he acknowledged the untenability of his position and agreed to step down for the benefit of the government.

This dismissal reflects deeper unrest within the PSOE, especially among women members, who have voiced strong demands for a profound feminist transformation and stricter accountability within the party structure. About 300 women from PSOE in Málaga have endorsed a manifesto denouncing all forms of harassment. Sánchez himself has publicly taken responsibility for the party's mishandling of these cases and offered support to the victims.

The case has reached a boiling point ahead of an upcoming Congress session, during which the Partido Popular plans to leverage the Salazar scandal to challenge and criticize the government, even as several ministers may be absent from the debate.

This political crisis signals significant internal restructuring as PSOE seeks to regain trust amidst public scrutiny. The party faces a critical moment requiring transparent action against harassment and renewed commitment to feminist principles within its ranks to address ongoing demands from its female members.