Sexual assault allegations against Spanish top cop
The deputy director of the Spanish National Police resigned on Wednesday after it emerged that he was under investigation for sexual assault after a policewoman under his command filed a complaint. She has accused her superior of sexually assaulting her in April 2025 in an official residence belonging to the Ministry of the Interior. For the national press, the case points to systemic problems in Spain.
Recurring pattern of violence
Sexism is still widespread, comments El País:
“The incident described in the complaint is shocking. It vividly describes the alleged rape and how the deputy chief abused his position to dominate the agent. ... The alleged rapist is Spain's highest-ranking police officer. [José Ángel] González held this position for over seven years, for almost the entire mandate of the interior minister. The shock is understandable. ... The case repeats the pattern of sexual violence combined with abuse of power, contempt for an objectified victim and a sense of impunity. ... It also shows that this culture pervades all areas and can occur even among those who know everything about violence in society.”
Responsibility at a higher level
El Mundo focuses on Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska:
“The Deputy Director of the National Police allegedly offered the complainant – González's ex-partner – a job in exchange for her silence. ... If this attempt at coercion is confirmed, it would constitute an abuse of power: uniform and hierarchy were used not for protection, but for subjugation. ... The interior minister claims he knew nothing about this. ... Politically speaking, such a line of defence is self-incriminating. If he knew about it, it is unacceptable that he kept a commander who was under suspicion. ... If he knew nothing, it means he has no control over his chain of command. ... Political responsibility is not limited to merely reacting when reality hits.”
Police force's image destroyed
ABC sees the police as an institution discredited:
“This is not just about the country's highest-ranking police officer being accused of an extremely serious crime, but also about the context in which it has happened: another high-ranking police officer, the head of the UDEF [Economic and Financial Crime Unit], is in custody on suspicion of drug trafficking. The damage to the institution's reputation and credibility is obvious. ... Spain needs a police force that is exclusively committed to the law. ... Its reform must not remain a mere declaration of intent. At stake is the credibility of an institution that is essential to the rule of law, and with it the trust of citizens in those who are supposed to protect them.”