Galician President Under Fire After Councilor's Resignation Amid Sexual Assault Allegations

Galician Parliament erupts as opposition slams President Rueda over Villares' resignation. The Galician Parliament witnessed heated exchanges this Wednesday as opposition parties confronted President Alfonso Rueda over his handling of the resignation of former councilor Alfonso Villares. Villares stepped down last week following a sexual assault complaint. Opposition leader Ana Pontón of the BNG called Rueda "indigno" (unworthy) for his perceived inaction, accusing him of "encubrir durante meses un presunto agresor sexual" (covering up a suspected sexual assailant for months). Socialist leader José Ramón Gómez Besteiro echoed these sentiments, stating that Rueda's "silencio cego" (blind silence) demonstrates his unsuitability for office. President Rueda, however, defended Villares' presumption of innocence and accused the opposition of "sectarismo" (sectarianism) and partisan exploitation of the situation. He emphasized that Villares resigned promptly upon learning of his indictment. The contrasting viewpoints highlight the deep divisions within the Galician political landscape and raise questions about transparency and accountability in government.