PP's Strategy: Summoning Paco Salazar to Influence Aragón Election

The People's Party (PP) announced Thursday that it will require former socialist leader Paco Salazar to appear before the Senate's Koldo Investigation Commission next Thursday, February 5. This decision is poised to impact the political landscape significantly, especially concerning the PSOE candidate in Aragón, Pilar Alegría. The timing of the summons is strategic, as it falls just three days prior to the early elections scheduled for February 8, orchestrated by Jorge Azcón. The PP intends to expose Salazar's alleged connection to various sexual assault accusations involving workers from Ferraz. Salazar, identified as a member of the so-called 'Peugeot clan', is being scrutinized for his potential financial misconduct related to the PSOE's operations. The term 'sanchismo' has been coined to describe what many perceive as a culture of machismo, corruption, and abuse of power under the PSOE leadership, with Salazar being a significant figure within this context. In his own writings, Salazar acknowledged a close-knit circle surrounding the leadership, which includes the likes of Ábalos and Cerdán, who purportedly held knowledge about irregularities in the party's primaries. This raises concerns over accountability and transparency in the PSOE's internal processes. PP sources assert that the primary objective of summoning Salazar is to question him on his association with Pilar Alegría, particularly regarding her stance on feminism amid the ongoing sexual harassment scandal that has engulfed the party. Questions aimed at Salazar will probe into his interactions with Alegría and seek clarity on communications that could reveal the depth of the alleged cover-up. The accusation against Alegría is part of a broader narrative presented by the PP, which claims that she has attempted to conceal the scandal. The argument follows that the citizens of Aragon deserve to discern the truth before making a decision in the upcoming elections. Furthermore, the PP has also summoned Susana Sumelzo of Aragón for her involvement in alleged irregularities concerning public contracts awarded to her family’s company, Forestalia. This approach by the PP of targeting key figures in the PSOE just days ahead of the elections could potentially sway public opinion and raise questions about the integrity of the governing party. The involvement of Salazar and Sumelzo in these allegations of corruption lines up with the broader image that the PP is attempting to project of the PSOE. Currently, many voters may find themselves seeking clarity on these issues, making this investigation a focal point in the coming days leading to the elections. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2