Contracts questioned in the management of Puntos Lila
The representative of the Women’s Institute, Isabel García, has been at the center of a controversy over the receipt of at least 64 public contracts awarded by municipalities under the management of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE). These contracts have been used to manage Lila Points through companies associated with her and her wife. According to revelations from the digital media El Español, it is estimated that the couple’s companies have generated approximately 250,000 euros in income through these awards.
Family and political relationship
Elisabeth García, Isabel García’s spouse, played the role of PSOE advisor in the Senate, which adds a layer of complexity to this situation. Criticism has arisen quickly, generating additional tensions between the PSOE and Sumar, which adopt different positions in the face of this scandal that involves one of the most relevant organizations in the fight against gender violence.
Questionable award methods
The aforementioned media outlet has indicated that Isabel’s company benefited from contracts that could be considered arbitrary. A representative case is that of the San Fernando de Henares City Council, where contracts were awarded for a total of more than 23,000 euros. It has been pointed out that the strategy used to secure these contracts involved the presentation of bids from several companies related to the couple, which guaranteed their success in obtaining the awards.
Nature of Purple Dots
The services offered consist of the management of Lila Points, which are physical spaces created to provide support to victims of sexist violence. These points not only allow complaints to be filed, but also act as information centers for the community, businesses and entities that want to know how to proceed in cases of gender assault.
Reactions found in the PSOE and Sumar
The situation has developed a new conflict between the PSOE and Sumar. While the PSOE has maintained a relatively calm approach to the matter, PSOE Equality Minister Ana Redondo has stated that García will be given time to offer any explanations she deems necessary. This attitude has caused outrage in Sumar, where they consider this time frame unacceptable and call for García’s immediate dismissal.
The defense of Isabel García
For her part, Isabel García has stated that she feels calm and convinced that she has acted correctly. She has also defended her partner’s right to work and survive, arguing that it is essential to separate the personal from the professional in this context.
A problematic appointment from the beginning
Since her appointment as director of the Women’s Institute, Isabel García’s profile has been a source of controversy. His past opinions, which criticize the LGTBI collective and use terms such as ‘queer dictatorship’, have rekindled tensions between Sumar and the PSOE, especially remembering that previously, during the administration of Irene Montero, the Equality portfolio had already been the scene of disagreements on policies that both parties consider fundamental.