Senior Spanish MP accused of sexual harassment

Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz has apologized for her party’s delay in dealing with a senior lawmaker who resigned last week amid multiple sexual assault allegations.

In the wake of the scandal that has rocked Spanish left-wing politics, Íñigo Errejón, Ms. Díaz’s press secretary far-left formation Sumarwas accused by actress and TV presenter Elisa Mouliaá of sexual aggression and harassment.

Mouliaá’s complaint followed claims posted online by more than a dozen anonymous women that the 40-year-old was a serial perpetrator of “mental abuse”, “gaslighting” and “humiliating sexual practices”.

Errejón, who was tipped to be Sumar’s next leader, resigned last Thursday a few hours before the party leadership decided to strip him of his position.

Spanish police confirmed on Friday that they had launched an investigation into the case.

Ms Díaz admitted her party was “late” in revealing Mr Errejón’s behavior, while trying to cover up claims it was a cover-up.

“As feminism has shown in recent days, there will be no impunity – no matter who it is, what its name is or who must fall,” she said on Monday afternoon after a meeting with parliamentarians.

“If I had known about such serious acts beforehand, I would have acted exactly the same way,” Ms. Díaz said.