Leaked recordings show members of Spain's PSOE party making vulgar remarks about former minister Jose Luis Abalos and his personal life [1].
The recordings suggest a volatile internal environment within the party and highlight the personal nature of the conflicts surrounding Abalos' removal from office.
According to a report by laSexta, an unnamed former PSOE militant said, "Tiene un problema con su polla y nadie puede salvarlo," referring to Abalos' alleged issues with his penis [1]. This individual said that Abalos was removed from his ministerial position due to "el tema de las tías," or issues involving women [1].
Another party figure, identified as Dolset, joined the criticism regarding Abalos' conduct. Dolset said that Abalos created a "pifostio de tías en Marruecos," referencing a chaotic situation involving women in Morocco [1]. These comments link the internal party criticism to both personal scandals and the mask-procurement controversy that plagued the administration during the pandemic.
While these recordings paint a picture of personal failure, other reports present a different narrative. Telemadrid reported that the primary issue was not personal, but rather related to health services. Armengol said, "El problema es Sanidad. Pedro lo vio bien," suggesting the problem was institutional rather than individual [1].
The laSexta report was released June 4, 2020 [1]. The recordings expose the disparity between the public image of the PSOE and the private language used by its members to describe their own leadership. The focus on Abalos' private life—specifically the phrase "what he has under his navel"—indicates a deep level of contempt among some party insiders.
“"Tiene un problema con su polla y nadie puede salvarlo"”
The contrast between the vulgar internal critiques and the official narrative regarding Abalos' departure suggests a fragmented party structure. While official reasons for ministerial changes often cite policy or health administration failures, these leaks reveal that personal conduct and internal animosity played a significant role in the political fallout.
