MADRID, Dec 12 (Reuters) – Spain’s Socialist Party PSOE apologised on Friday for “communication failures” in handling sexual harassment complaints, as mounting allegations threaten the credibility of a party that has long championed women’s rights.
The party, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, is under fire from unions, the opposition and its own coalition partners over accusations that it created an internal platform for women to report harassment or abuse after a case emerged in July — but then failed to act on complaints submitted through it.
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PSOE secretary Rebeca Torro told reporters on Friday that stronger support mechanisms would be implemented, but denied the party sought to suppress accusations. “If we say we are feminists, we mean it. PSOE defends women’s rights,” she said.
These include harassment allegations surfacing in local media against several junior party officials.
“This type of behaviour tears us up from the inside,” said Angeles Ferriz, the party’s deputy spokesperson in the region of Andalucia. “We cannot allow the PSOE’s feminist DNA to be called into question.”
Unai Sordo, the leader of one of Spain’s largest unions, the CCOO, demanded zero tolerance for harassment, alleging it stemmed from entrenched machismo in Spanish society.
Reporting by Victoria Waldersee and Emma Pinedo. Additional reporting David Latona, editing by Aislinn Laing and Ros Russell
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