A high-ranking Spanish deputy is accused of sexual violence

Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz has apologized for her party’s delay in dealing with a senior lawmaker who resigned last week amid multiple allegations of sexual abuse.

In a scandal that has rocked Spanish left-wing politics, Iñigo Herrejón, a spokesman for Ms Diaz hard-left Sumerian formationwas accused by actress and TV presenter Eliza Muliaa of sexual aggression and harassment.

Muliaa’s complaint was filed after more than a dozen anonymous women claimed online that the 40-year-old was a serial perpetrator of “psychological abuse,” “gaslighting” and “degrading sexual practices.”

Mr Errejon, who is widely tipped to become Sumar’s next leader, resigned last Thursday, hours before the party leadership stripped him of his position.

On Friday, Spanish police confirmed that they had opened an investigation into the case.

Ms Díaz admitted her party was “late” in exposing Mr Errejon’s conduct in an effort to refute claims of a cover-up.

“As feminism has shown in recent days, there will be no impunity – no matter who it is, what it’s called and who has to go down,” she said after a meeting with MPs on Monday afternoon.

“Had I known about such serious actions earlier, I would have acted exactly the same way,” Ms. Diaz said.