Alfonso Villares, former Sea Councillor of the Galician government, faces serious allegations and resigns from his post, while the opposition demands clarification.
A bombshell in Spanish politics: Alfonso Villares, until recently Sea Councillor in the government of Galicia, resigned from his post on Wednesday. This step followed a day after he was informed by the Supreme Court of Justice of Galicia (TSXG) that he was under investigation for sexual coercion. The complaint, which triggered the scandal, was filed months ago by well-known presenter and model Paloma Lago.
Alfonso Villares, antigo alcalde de Cervo e dirixente moi próximo ao presidente Rueda, levaba dous anos como conselleiro do Mar. Este foi o momento en que anunciou a súa dimisión en San Caetano https://t.co/YqxTpZ0uCH pic.twitter.com/Eq8bXXkm0W
— Praza Pública (@prazapublica) June 4, 2025
Paloma Lago: A Complaint That Causes Waves
Paloma Lago, a 58-year-old communicator who was an icon of Spanish television in the 90s and has since been regularly in the public eye, filed the complaint in her hometown of Ferrol. It refers to incidents that allegedly occurred at the end of last December. The severity of the allegations has now had direct consequences for Villares’ political career.
Villares’ Resignation and the Plea of Innocence
After the TSXG’s notification, Villares convened a press conference just 24 hours later, announcing his resignation. Despite his resignation, he pleaded his “absolute innocence.” He justified his step by stating that although the judicial proceedings concerned “strictly personal events,” he did not want “circumstances of private life” to “cloud” public trust in institutions. This statement raises the question of how far a politician’s private sphere can be separated from public perception, especially when such serious allegations are involved.
Loss of Immunity and Case Transfer
By resigning from his offices as councillor and regional deputy, Villares loses his immunity. This means that the Civil and Criminal Chamber of the TSXG is no longer responsible, and the case will now be transferred to the Court of First Instance of Ferrol. The 55-year-old veterinarian and former mayor of the municipality of Cervo (2007-2023) made no further statements regarding the complaint during his brief press appearance and declined questions from the media. However, he expressed hope that his innocence would be confirmed and that he would be able to resume his political life “as soon as possible.”
Opposition Demands for Clarification
Opposition parties in Galicia reacted immediately, demanding explanations from Galician President Alfonso Rueda. The Socialist Party of Galicia (PSdeG) demands “clear and urgent explanations” regarding the incident. Noa Presas, a deputy of the Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG), expressed dismay, emphasizing that it was “terrible for Galician women” to see a government that should protect their rights having “a possible sexual aggressor.” She also stressed that “a complaint of this magnitude is not an exclusively private matter” – an important reference to the public relevance of such cases. The Villares case will shape the political landscape of Galicia and Spain in the coming weeks and months and further fuel the debate about the responsibility of public officials.
