The crisis of harassment allegations impacting Spain’s PSOE saw a new addition this week: Francisco Luis Fernández Rodríguez, who had been the Socialist mayor of Belalcázar (Córdoba), stepped down and asked to withdraw his party membership following the publication by various media of messages reportedly sent by him to a municipal subordinate.
What is being investigated and what has been published
In coverage by RTVE / EFE, the case is framed as one of two complaints processed through the party’s internal reporting channel (the other involves a PSPV-PSOE figure in Valencia). Regarding Belalcázar, RTVE reports that the mayor resigned “after being singled out” for allegedly sending sexual and sexist messages to a subordinate, and adds that he is also accused of sending unwanted photographs. Fernández, for his part, denies that it amounted to harassment and describes the exchanges as “inappropriate.”
Cadena SER adds a timeline detail: the published messages would date from March 2023 through the first months of 2024, attributing the initial publication to the newspaper ABC.
As of now, what has been verified through public sources is:
- The existence of published reports featuring messages attributed to the mayor.
- His resignation from office and his withdrawal from party membership (according to SER and RTVE).
- The opening of an internal procedure through the PSOE channel (according to RTVE).
What remains undisclosed to the public (in accessible, verifiable sources) encompasses the complete evidentiary record, the identity of the complainant (usually safeguarded), and whether a formal criminal proceeding has advanced beyond preliminary stages.
How the PSOE’s internal protocol works
In the party’s Protocol against sexual harassment (published in 2025), an Anti-Harassment Body is described, made up of three members and expected to act with independence and autonomy. It is responsible for receiving complaints, conducting the review, proposing protective measures, and producing a final report (which may lead to internal disciplinary proceedings).
The same document emphasizes two concepts that clarify why numerous cases are first addressed “internally”:
- The privacy of the individual filing the complaint and the process itself.
- The assumption of innocence and the right to defend oneself for the individual implicated by the accusation.
It is also mentioned that the protocol does not hinder access to the courts, and internal processing might even be suspended if a judicial proceeding is in progress.
Reasons this situation highlights the broader crisis within the PSOE
RTVE situates the Belalcázar incident among a series of grievances and resignations that have surfaced in a matter of days, alongside other names already on the public radar, and mentions that Ferraz declared an enhancement of the protocol in reaction to “the cases coming to light.” The political backdrop—amid escalating public and media scrutiny—contributes to understanding why these matters are being addressed through swift organizational actions (membership revocations, resignations, internal investigations), despite the fact that determining complete accountability may require more time.
Possible future developments
From this point, three paths generally emerge (not necessarily exclusive to one another):
- Local institutional track: the departure of the mayor compels the town council to restructure its government (in accordance with applicable local regulations).
- Party/organizational track: the PSOE may proceed with its internal investigation and, based on what is confirmed, implement further actions.
- Judicial track: if a complaint is present before the prosecution service or a court, the progression and extent will rely on procedural actions and judicial decisions.
In this case, the PSOE is opting, in numerous cases made known this year, to keep them under wraps and not report them to the authorities, something that has been criticized by citizens and the political class.
