🚩 This Week in Spain: Leftist leader meets #metoo
Also: Racism in football again, Spain and Argentina make up and the DANA.
By @IanMount and @AdrianBono | October 31, 2024 | Madrid | Issue #76
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🥜 This Week in a Nutshell: (Now former) Sumar MP Íñigo Errejón has gone from political leader to toxic political corpse in only seven days after explosive accusations of sexual harassment, violence and psychological abuse came to light, effectively ending his career and sending Spain’s left into panic mode.
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Jaw-dropping plot twist
☢️ Spain’s left scrambles to save face after top MP leaves over sexual abuse case(s)
It’s been a surreal week in Spanish politics.
A major scandal has left Spain’s left licking its wounds as a leading defender of feminism and women’s rights was forced to resign in disgrace after multiple accusations of sexual abuse came to light.
Who? Progressive wunderkind Íñigo Errejón, who until recently was the spokesperson of leftist coalition Sumar in Parliament. 40-year-old Errejón was outspoken in defense of Spain’s feminist movement and he regularly and passionately spoke against gender violence, the patriarchy, toxic masculinity and women’s rights. And, well, now…
Let’s start from the beginning. Last Thursday afternoon, local media sent out alerts to millions of cell phones around the country: MP Errejón had just announced on X Twitter he was quitting politics.
The surprise announcement was cryptic…which got everyone’s attention. Errejón said that political life had damaged “his physical and mental health” and that, in order to survive politics, he was unable to empathize with the needs of others, which had created a “toxic subjectivity” that “multiplied by the patriarchy… affected his relationships”.
Suspicious word salad. “I have reached the limit of the contradiction between the public persona and person”, he said. To whit, while he was getting psychological help, he had to quit politics “to take care of himself”.
More than meets the eye. Immediately after posting this, the social media conversation turned to journalist Cristina Fallarás.
Blind item. Only two days before, Fallarás had posted on her Instagram account a blind item about a woman who was accusing “a well-known politician from Madrid” of machista behavior, psychological abuse, gaslighting and “humiliating practices” during sex. Who? Many voices on social media said it was Errejón.
Confirmation. The rumors were confirmed Thursday night: actress Elisa Mouliaá announced that she was pressing charges against Errejón for sexual aggression for an incident that took place three years ago. After that, the accusations started multiplying, as more women came forward online and accused him of violent behavior during sex along with other psychological and physical abuse.
One…for now. Only Mouliaá has pressed charges so far, and the case is moving forward in court (Errejón is no longer an MP so he has no parliamentary immunity and may have to appear before the judge soon).
The call is coming from inside the house. But this was just the beginning of the scandal. Why? Because Errejón has been a leading member of the biggest leftist (and feminist) parties in Spain for over a decade—first Podemos, then Más Madrid, Más País and now Sumar.
When did it start and who knew? News surfaced that in June of 2023 an anonymous woman took to Twitter to claim he had touched “her waist and ass” without consent at the Tremendas Femfest festival in Castellón. And no one followed up?
Far-left Podemos was the first to distance itself from the scandal/make political advantage of it on Monday morning (here’s the press conference).
Not us, but… Although Errejón parted ways with the party in 2019 (in no amicable terms), giving Podemos a “we know nothing” excuse, spokesperson Pablo Fernández said they “alerted” Sumar boss Yolanda Díaz about last year’s anonymous tweet. He did not say whether Díaz responded.
Then Mas Madrid/Más País held a press conference (watch it here) with Health Minister and Más Madrid co-spokesperson Mónica García alongside the party’s municipal and regional spokespeople, Rita Maestre and Manuela Bergerot. (Which was awkward because, um, Errejón not only belonged to their party but also had dated Maestre from 2008 to 2015.)
Whoops. The three acknowledged their organization learned of the incident in the anonymous tweet shortly after it occurred and admitted that failing to investigate it thoroughly was “a mistake.” — “We thought he had personal issues of a different kind,” García said. Hmmm… 🤔
Embarrassing. Maestre later posted a letter on Twitter saying she felt “devastating” pain: “A person of normal appearance — a good boyfriend — was at the same time a misogynist who would come home normally after abusing a 20-year-old in a hotel.”
Finally, Sumar had a press conference (here): Yolanda Díaz admitted she was informed about the accusation against Errejón in 2023 but didn’t inquire further once the tweet was deleted and Más Madrid informed her that the case “had been closed”.
But though I knew I didn’t know. “If I had known during the list-making process that Íñigo Errejón was an alleged sexual offender, I assure you… he would never have been [named parliamentary speaker]".” Which should be obvious, right?
Nothing to see here. Then both Sumar and its allies declared that they had forcefully handled the situation, there was nothing left to see, and we should all move on.
Un-forking-likely. Journalist Cristina Fallarás has warned that this is “just the tip of the iceberg” and many more accusations against high-profile men are coming. Spain seems to be going through its own MeToo moment—and only the first domino has fallen.
Final Halloween note. Errejón was dubbed ‘Milhouse’ (by a far-right Vox pol) for his resemblance to the Simpsons character and, apparently, the Milhouse costume sold out in some places in advance of Halloween. Funny and sad all mixed up. 🤦
More news below. 👇👇
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💬 Five things to discuss at dinner parties this week
1.🤔 PM Sánchez’s photo with Victor de Aldama
Turns out that the so-called “Koldo Case” is the gift that keeps on giving. We’ve covered it here many times, remember?
What’s happened in this miniseries so far. The Guardia Civil arrested Koldo García, an advisor to former Public Works Minister José Luis Ábalos, earlier this year for allegedly taking bribes for millions in COVID-era surgical mask sales. In the next chapter, Víctor de Aldama, an associate of Koldo, was accused of helping secure licenses that allowed his network to buy fuel without VAT and then resell it at full price, pocketing the difference. He allegedly defrauded the Spanish taxman of €182m over two years (!!!). Anyway, he was detained earlier this month.
Now, enter El Mundo. On Monday morning, the newspaper published on its front page incontrovertible evidence that PM Pedro Sánchez has been in on it from the start: a photo of the PM with Aldama in a 2019 event (the photo was taken by Koldo himself!).
This was it. In a scathing editorial, El Mundo demanded an explanation, considering that Sánchez has until now denied knowing De Aldama. Was this a smoking gun? 🔫
I know nothing. The PM — who was in India on an official visit — once again denied ever meeting with De Aldama, explaining that this was just “one of thousands” of photos that people take with him (which, as he is PM, might well be true). “The right is desperately trying to link me to this man I have no relation with,” he added.
Attack dog speaks. Transportation Minister/hired political UFC fighter Óscar Puente also dismissed the importance of the photo, likening it to ordinary people taking casual photos with public figures at events. (In fact, he encouraged his followers on Twitter to share photos with celebrities to prove it.)
The PP wasn’t going to ignore this. The opposition party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo accused the PM of “deliberately hiding the truth” about his connections to Aldama because he “not only was a VIP at PSOE rallies” but was also closely associated with Sánchez.
Turn it up a notch. Vox leader Santiago Abascal reacted to the photo by calling for Sánchez’s resignation, labeling the situation as the “largest corruption scandal involving Moncloa” and accusing Sánchez of building an “unprecedented network of corruption.” Oh, and of killing Christ.
2. 🇦🇷 Spain appoints new ambassador to Argentina and pretends nothing happened
Spain finally has returned an ambassador in Argentina and it looks like the two countries have decided to end their beef and become friends again. Or at least Spain had admitted that its beef with Argentina failed and no one cared.
You mad, bro? You may recall (we covered it here), that relations between Madrid and Buenos Aires have been tense since May, PM Sánchez clashed with the president of Argentina, anarcho-capitalist Javier Milei.
How it started. The Argentine prez was in Madrid attending a rally organized by far-right Vox and made fun of Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, saying she was “corrupt”.
Though shalt not diss Begoña. Sánchez, who really doesn’t like it when people mess with his wife—he took five days off back in April to
chill outconsider resigning after a judge opened an investigation against her (remember?)—overreacted by recalling Spanish ambassador in Buenos Aires and leaving the embassy sede vacante.Poke, poke, poke. While Milei continued to go after Sánchez, calling him “Little Pedro” and stuff, he did not reciprocate and the Argentine ambassador stayed in Madrid, making Pedro look thin-skinned.
We good now. That all seems to be water under the bridge because on Tuesday, Spain’s cabinet appointed Joaquín María de Arístegui as the new ambassador to Argentina.
Nothing to see here. According to El Español, the Spanish government considers the spat to be dead and buried. What’s changed in the last five months? Maybe the Foreign Ministry, led by José Manuel Albares, realized that recalling the ambassador was ridiculous and it was best to calm down?
Friendly telling. The government-friendly El País provides some details, explaining that “the decision … was preceded by a series of contacts between the diplomatic leaders of both countries” (which seems obvious). The newspaper says Albares held a “cordial” phone conversation with his Argentine counterpart, Diana Mondino last month and that they had a meeting on the sidelines of September’s UN General Assembly in New York. (Mondino was fired this week, for an unrelated issue—for voting at the UN to end the Cuba embargo)
See? Those rumors saying that diplomacy is dead have been greatly exaggerated. Really…nothing to see here!
3. ⛈️ At least 95 dead in Valencia after apocalyptic flooding
A Walking Dead set. That’s what large swathes of Valencia—along with parts of Castilla La Mancha and Andalucía—looked like Wednesday morning after a massive storm called a DANA (more on that below) passed through. Cars piled on roads and against buildings, rivers overflowing banks, the absurd site of kitchen appliances strewn across public streets, and mud everywhere—more mud than a person can imagine.
95 were confirmed dead in Valencia with the expectation that the number would far surpass 100, after storm clouds dumped some 343 mm (about 13 inches) of rain in just four hours at points, shattered windows with hail, and caused floods that washed away people, cars and anything else not planted into the earth. In just one town—Paiporta (pop. 25,309)—Mayor Maribel Albalat said “tens” of people had died (so far, 40 have).
A long drought meant the earth couldn’t absorb the rain with speed, leaving it to flow—constantly more abundant—through the gorges and dry riverbeds that crisscross the region, stranding pedestrians and drivers in apocalyptic war zone conditions demanded many life-saving helicopter rescues (see video above).
A nightmare like many others. Take the tale of Paqui Soriano, who was returning from work in the outskirts of Valencia. The rain started as she drove on the AP-7 highway, then grew in intensity until she could barely see. The fields along the highway flooded, and then the highway itself. When her car began to float, she decided to abandon it to avoid drowning. “I managed to get out, the water up to my waist. I was holding on to cars and I got to a truck, where I desperately asked the truck driver for help and he opened the door for me. He helped me get into the truck. My body was shaking all over, a mixture of cold, fear, and adrenaline.” she told El País. “The scene was fantasmagórico.”
What is a DANA and why does this happen? A DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos) is a high-altitude low-pressure zone made up of cold air, also known colloquially as a gota fría (cold drop). This cold air depression drops in altitude, and then often causes high winds and heavy rains in the fall along the Mediterranean coast of Spain and France. Climate change arguably has a role in making these DANAs worse—warmer air can hold more water, and dry ground can absorb less sudden rainfall.
And was there a political element? Oh yes! Both the Senate and Parliament suspended their regular sessions Wednesday, and PM Pedro Sánchez, just back from India, said, “We will not leave you alone, we will help you with all the resources of the State, and if necessary, the EU.”
But no pausing the important stuff. Sánchez’s PSOE-led government did not, however, suspend a session to approve a change in the statute governing RTVE to let it largely freeze out the PP from the national broadcaster’s board and exert control over it until 2030.
PP leader Feijóo? Not happy. “In one of the worst moments in our country’s recent history, the principal priority of the government is the attempt to control public media,” he said. “I’ve seen many moments of moral baseness, but none like this.” The PP and far-right Vox skipped the session.
4. ⚽ Yes, we have to talk about racism in football again
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We have to discuss racism in football again, but this time the victim isn’t Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. In fact, the incident happened at Real Madrid’s Estadio Bernabéu, and the insults were directed against players of Real Madrid’s arch-rival—FC Barcelona.
Tempers were destined to be hot. The ‘Clásicos’ between Real Madrid and Barça are always hard-fought and the fans revel in mocking and denigrating the opposing team’s players.
Real Madrid fans were especially grumpy. After the two teams played to a 0-0 draw at halftime, Barça
opened up a can of whoop-assbeat Real Madrid in the second half, taking the game 0-4. Making this worse? Real Madrid had in the offseason bought/hired Kylian Mbappé, the so-called best player in the world, who was going to make Real Madrid even better than last year (when they won both La Liga and the Champions). And yet here they were, definitely not better, and getting spanked…
None of this justified what happened next. The third and fourth goals, scored when Real Madrid fans were already in a bitter frenzy, were put in by Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, who are, as the term of art goes, POC (Yamal is Spanish with parents from Morocco and Equatorial Guinea, and Raphinha is from Brazil; Ansu Fati, who did not score but was also insulted, was born in Guinea-Bissau).
Fans rained down insults. The basics—hijo de puta and tu puta madre, which seem almost cute these days—were overwhelmed by the simply racist—negro de mierda, mono and puto moro—and the elaborately racist—calling Yamal a MENA (Menores Extranjeros No Acompañados—basically an underaged undocumented immigrant) and suggesting that he should be selling packets of tissues at stop lights.
Slow clap, guys. You’re racist assholes. Both LaLiga and Real Madrid filed police complaints against those involved and provided identifying videos of the culprits. Vini Jr himself tweeted, “There is no place for these criminals in our society.”
Yamal had perhaps the best line, flipping the insults on their head. “If fans in the stands yell nonsense, you shouldn't care. It's the other way around—when they tell you that, it's because you're playing very well and you have to keep going." HA!
It appears that Spain is taking football violence seriously. After the speedy reaction to the Atlético-Real Madrid chaos (and partial stadium closure) and here, it seems that in-stadium bad behavior’s time of reckoning is here
Finally something funny. (Because we have to.) At the Balon de Oro ceremony for the world’s best footballers (more on that below), actress Natalie Portman—who owns a women's football team and was presenting an award—took a picture with Yamal and a few other Barça players, while holding out four fingers—for 0-4. As the headline says, that’s a “Galactic troll.” 🤣
5. 👶 If I don’t win, I’m taking my toys and going home
This week’s annual Ballon d’Or awards—football’s Oscars—was the most Spanish award show ever. Spanish teams—Real Madrid (men’s) and FC Barcelona (women’s)—won team of the year awards; Spanish players Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí won for men’s and women’s players of the year; Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelloti won trainer of the year; FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal won for best player under 21; and Luis Rubiales kissing victim Jenni Hermoso won the humanitarian trophy.
Now that’s a ceremony with a serious Spanish accent! So…why wasn’t anyone from Real Madrid there?
Funny you should ask! Up until about an hour before their charter plane was about to take off for Paris, 50 representatives of Real Madrid were meant to attend. It would be a welcome distraction after the team’s 0-4 drubbing by FC Barcelona and the chaos around it (see above).
And then there was a leak 💦 — Vinicius Jr was not going to win the Ballon d’Or top prize 😱— and Rodri was! But, but but…Vini had been a major force on his team, which won La Liga and Champions League honors, and he scored in the Champions League final. And 41.3% of the respondents to a poll by football mag L'Équipe voted for him (Rodri was second with 13.5%). It seemed pre-ordained.
Vini lost his marbles and Real Madrid did so too. If Vini—the obvious (to them) victor—wasn’t going to win, and the second obvious one (Dani Carvajal, who won championships both with Real Madrid and the Spain national team) wasn’t either—then it was obvs rigged. Because someone from Real Madrid had to win, right? Well, um, maybe not. But anyway, they were super unhappy.
How unhappy? "If the criteria for the award do not make Vinicius the winner, those same criteria should make Carvajal the winner," Real Madrid said. "Since that did not happen, it is clear that the Ballon d'Or does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected."
Bit whiny, right? Well, a little. But the voting for the Ballon d’Or awards can always be second guessed. One journalist from each of the 100 top-ranked football countries creates a ranked list of the year’s top 10 players (from a long list of 30). Each gets points (a #1 gets 15, a #10 gets 1) and once they’re added up, he with the most points wins.
Each sportswriter has their own criteria, of course. As in, this year the one from El Salvador refused to give top points to Spanish players because he thought their Euro 2024 win was “fraudulent” because of an uncalled handball that seriously helped them win their game against Germany.
Still, it’s more or less transparent. And while Vini was great in Europe, he didn’t do so well in the Copa América or the World Cup 2026 prelims. Plus, the editor-in-chief of France Football, whose owner co-sponsors the Ballon d’Or, suggested that Vini’s chances were hurt because Real Madrid’s team was too deep—Vini was #2 in voting, while Bellingham was #3 and Carvajal #4. If there’d only been one Real Madrid star to vote for…
Another country heard from. Javier Tebas, who runs La Liga (Spain’s top professional footy body) and likes to fight with most other human beings on the planet, jumped right in. Go Javi! “I don’t know where they’re going with this, they lack elegance,” he said. “The victimization of Madrid makes no sense and is exaggerated,”
And a funny. People wrote on the Instagram page of pop star Oliva Rodrigo (no relation to Rodri, natch) that she’d stolen Vini’s Ballon d’Or. 🤣 Tongue in cheek, we suspect.
Where do we stand? It’s all a bit confounding, but Vini seemed to feel his outspokenness on racism hurt. But maybe the sportswriters just vote for weird reasons? Or maybe Rodri was the best. Let’s give him some applause. 👏 He seems like a pretty cool guy.
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