A Spanish judge has ruled that former left-wing MP Íñigo Errejón should face trial on sexual assault charges, a development that has unsettled the junior partners in Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s coalition government.
Errejón, a founding member of Podemos and who previously served as a spokesperson for the left-wing Sumar party, stepped down from political life in 2024 after allegations were made against him by actor and television presenter Elisa Mouliaá. He has consistently rejected the accusations. ALSO READ: Podemos founding member, Íñigo Errejón, quits politics amid sexual assault accusations.
In a decision dated 27 December and released publicly on Wednesday, a Madrid court concluded that sufficient evidence exists for the case to proceed to trial. No date has yet been scheduled.
Mouliaá claims that during a meeting in 2021, Errejón subjected her to unwanted physical contact, including non-consensual kissing.
She is calling for a prison sentence of three years as well as compensation amounting to 30,000 euros.
Errejón, an academic specialising in political theory who describes himself as a feminist, maintains that the encounter was consensual.
The case has proved politically damaging for Sánchez’s minority administration, which has made gender equality and the fight against violence towards women central pillars of its agenda. ALSO READ: Facing fallout among women voters over sex scandals, the PSOE tighten harassment protocols.
It also emerges against the backdrop of multiple corruption cases and harassment allegations involving figures from several political parties.
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El juez envía al banquillo a Iñigo Errejón por abuso sexual contra la actriz Elisa Mouliaá y le impone una fianza de 30.000 euros.
— Telediarios de TVE (@telediario_tve) January 7, 2026
🎙️@MariaMoreno____ y @EnekoCarazoTVE
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