An activist for the far-right Vox party publicly accused party official Miguel Martínez of sexual harassment during a Sants-Montjuïc district plenary session in Barcelona last Tuesday. This dramatic intervention brought to light an internal party investigation into the serious allegations.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
The elderly woman, identified by El País as Eugenia, interrupted the session to distribute leaflets. She approached the councillors’ table, handing a copy to each. Eugenia shouted, “You scumbag!” and “Bad man!” She exclaimed, “What is happening in this country is horrible! A man who sits in this council destroys women!”
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Jess González, the session president from Barcelona en Comú (Bcomú), called Eugenia to order. The accused Vox councillor, Miguel Martínez, immediately demanded her expulsion. He also asked colleagues to call the police to remove her from the chamber.
The leaflet, accessed by El Periódico, explicitly stated, “If internal accusations exist against Miguel Martínez, they must be investigated.” It continued, “Political ethics demand clarification of any inappropriate behaviour towards women.” El País reported that Eugenia initiated her public action after speaking with other women associated with Vox.
The same newspaper indicated that María Visitación Yerbes and Francisco García, two former municipal group representatives, had previously asked their superiors to investigate Martínez’s conduct. Vox dismissed both Yerbes and García last year. These developments highlight a period of internal turmoil within the Vox party in Barcelona. The Sants-Montjuïc district, a significant area of Barcelona, became the public stage for these accusations.
Vox Denies Harassment Allegations
Spokespeople for Vox in Barcelona province denied the allegations, presenting a different version of events to El Periódico. They portrayed Martínez as the victim of “a campaign of harassment and threats.” Vox stated, “Vox has not received and is not aware of any complaint against Miguel Martínez, neither police-judicial nor internal within the party’s bodies.” This firm denial contrasts sharply with the public accusations.
The official party account detailed that the Provincial Executive Committee (CEP) initiated its internal protocol for such cases on 2 February. This action followed the receipt of “anonymous messages harassing him.” At the subsequent meeting on 16 February, “Miguel was summoned and questioned” about the claims.
The party described its search for testimonies: “We spread the word among the teams to see if anyone had anything against him, to come and inform us.” On 23 March, the day before the Sants-Montjuïc plenary session, the committee concluded the protocol. “We investigated, and no victim came forward, much less a complaint,” the sources argued.
Dismissals and Internal Party Conflicts
Vox tacitly acknowledged awareness of accusations against Martínez dating back to at least spring 2023. They also confirmed that Yerbes’ dismissal directly related to these matters. “We became aware that Yerbes was pressuring an affiliate to falsely accuse Miguel Martínez of sexual harassment because the affiliate told us so,” Vox stated. This revelation offers insight into the party’s internal dynamics.
“That is why we lost confidence in her, and she was finally dismissed,” the party added. They attributed Francisco García’s other dismissal to “labour reasons.” García previously led Vox in Badalona, a large city near Barcelona. He now collaborates with Alvise Pérez’s party in Badalona.
Miguel Martínez had previously served as a councillor for Eva Parera’s Valents party. Shortly before Valents’ dissolution in 2023, he joined Vox, as his Instagram profile indicates. This political move brought him into the party now facing these public allegations. His transition between parties adds another layer to the political context.
Ongoing Scrutiny and Future Steps
Vox maintains its position, stating, “We are open to reopening the file if we receive any other information.” The public accusation at the Sants-Montjuïc plenary session ensures continued scrutiny of these serious allegations. This situation underscores the challenges faced by political parties in managing internal conduct and public perception in Barcelona. The incident highlights the tensions within the far-right political landscape.
Originally published by El Periódico Barcelona. Read original article.
