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Spain’s Socialist Party bans members from hiring sex workers amid corruption scandal
Spain’s ruling Socialist Party, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has banned its members from soliciting or paying for sex in response to a corruption scandal that has rocked the party. The decision was announced on Saturday as part of a leadership overhaul aimed at restoring public trust.
Scandal and reforms
The controversy erupted earlier this week with the arrest of Santos Cerdán, a former senior Socialist Party official, accused of involvement in a corruption scheme and hiring sex workers. The investigation has intensified scrutiny on the party at a critical time for Sánchez, who is facing the most significant crisis of his seven-year tenure as prime minister.
To address the fallout, the Socialist Party introduced strict disciplinary measures, declaring that any member found "soliciting, accepting, or obtaining sexual acts in exchange for money" would face expulsion. Sánchez justified the move, stating, "If we believe a woman's body is not for sale, our party cannot allow behaviour contrary to that."
The party also announced a leadership shake-up, appointing 44-year-old lawyer Rebeca Torró to replace Cerdán as its number three official. The changes come as Sánchez seeks to stabilize the Socialist Party and maintain his leadership amid growing public backlash.
Leadership challenges
The crisis deepened when another close ally of Sánchez, Francisco Salazar, resigned from consideration for a top leadership role. Reports from the news outlet eldiario.es allege that Salazar faced accusations of inappropriate behavior from several women within the party.
Additionally, former transport minister José Luis Ábalos has been implicated in the corruption investigation, which centers on allegations of kickbacks for public contracts.
Despite the mounting pressure, Sánchez has ruled out stepping down. Speaking to party leaders in Madrid, he stated: "The captain doesn’t look the other way when seas get rough. He stays to steer the ship through the storm." He also apologized for trusting individuals now linked to the scandal.
Opposition response
The conservative People’s Party (PP), led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has seized the opportunity to criticize the Socialists. At a party meeting, Feijóo called his party "the only alternative to this state of decline," promising a government that "doesn't lie, doesn't rob, but serves Spaniards."
With national elections on the horizon, the Socialists face an uphill battle to repair their image and regain voter confidence.