The President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola has flatly denied delaying a harassment investigation into a Spanish socialist MEP after media reports surfaced suggesting that the Maltese official was dragging her feet over the matter.
Metsola is alleged to have delayed issuing sanctions against PSOE MEP Mónica Silvana Gonzalez who temporarily lost her €338 a day parliamentary allowance in January over allegations of bullying three of her parliamentary staff members.
The Spanish MEP is just the latest EU official to be embroiled in harassment claims. Metsola has repeatedly called for an update of vague anti-harassment guidelines within Parliament.
In the European Parliament, the department known as the Bureau is responsible for dealing with issues related to bullying and harassment claims. The Bureau consists of the president of the European Parliament and 14 vice presidents responsible for the daily administrative aspects of the Parliament’s work.
EUObserver reported that Metsola spent 30 weeks deliberating on the case before finally removing Gonzalez’s allowance with the lag time potentially dissuading other bullying victims from coming forward.
Allegations against Gonzalez first emerged in 2021 with Metsola and her office reportedly also dealing with separate harassment claims against the Spanish politician. Under parliamentary protocols, investigations must endeavour to rule on harassment cases six weeks after they are brought to their attention, which is rarely achieved due to the need to conduct a proper and thorough investigation.
Interparliamentary bullying and sexual harassment had been hot topics in Brussels circles this week as MEPs pondered the implications of the ‘me too’ movement on legislative agenda. Last week, Flemish MEP Assita Kanko was hit by claims of psychologically abusing her parliamentary staff as the European Parliament struggles to update its internal protocols in the wake of the unfolding corruption scandals.
A spokesperson for Metsola’s office defended the President’s actions speaking to The European Conservative saying that the nature of certain allegations means that final rulings can often be delayed.
The spokesperson stated that while they couldn’t comment on individual cases, some investigations take longer than expected and that Metsola had not stalled any probe contrary to EUObserver reporting.
Ironing out parliamentary protocol has been a defining feature of Metsola’s tenure after her former colleague was put under house arrest for her role in the Qatargate scandal.
The MEP at the centre of the bullying allegations, Mónica Silvana Gonzalez, did not respond to inquiries by The European Conservative but has previously denied any wrongdoing.
