PSOE Scandal: Women Accuse High-Ranking Politician of Sexual Harassment

Several women linked to the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) have reported sexual harassment by José Tomé, the president of the Provincial Council of Lugo and mayor of Monforte de Lemos. They allege that Tomé offered them jobs in exchange for sexual favors. «He offers you a job for a price, you can become a civil servant or interim in exchange for sex,» reads one of the most serious testimonies. Other accounts speak of «inappropriate messages» and «a pattern of behavior that is entirely sexual and crosses boundaries». One woman stated that the party, in which she had trusted and which proclaims itself to be the party of women, «completely ignores us and protects abusers like this». The victims claim they reported the harassment to three top leaders of the PSOE in Galicia, but they took no action. They even justified Tomé's behavior, saying, «They tell you it's not a big deal, that he's just like that, and they make you think you're exaggerating or that you did something to provoke it». In response to these allegations, party leaders stated they had not received any formal complaints but promised to apply their protocols with full rigor if information comes to light. The victims, however, say they fear reporting the abuse due to the power and influence of the perpetrators, especially in small towns.