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Government weighs up stripping Julio Iglesias of arts medal as pressure grows over allegations
Ministers consider next steps as institutions across Spain review honours linked to the singer
The Spanish government is considering whether to withdraw Julio Iglesias’s Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts, following allegations of sexual assault made by several former domestic workers who say they were abused while employed at his Caribbean homes. Any decision would require approval by the Council of Ministers, government sources have confirmed.Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun said the issue is now under active review, acknowledging the seriousness of the accusations. “I can confirm that this is something we are studying and will evaluate, because we are clearly challenged by such a serious investigation,” he said. Urtasun added that it was essential for complaints to “run their course” and for the women involved to be heard before the government decides whether further action is needed.
The possible withdrawal of the medal follows recent reports in which former employees accused the singer of sexual assault while working at his properties. The minister warned that the case could amount to a “suspected case of human trafficking” and described the allegations as “deeply repugnant.”
Second Vice President Yolanda Díaz has been among the strongest voices calling for action, arguing that what has emerged so far “requires exemplary action”. She described the findings of the journalistic investigation as “terrifying”, saying that “all the human rights violations are concentrated against women who were in a position of extreme vulnerability”. Díaz urged immediate support for the alleged victims and encouraged them to persevere, while also congratulating the journalists involved in uncovering the claims.
She also called for a clear public commitment from political leaders across the spectrum to defend the human rights of women. Díaz strongly criticised comments made by Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso, who had spoken in defence of Iglesias, saying that leaders must “stand with the victims, listen to them and put them first”.
Elsewhere, institutions are clarifying what honours Iglesias does and does not hold. The Málaga Provincial Council confirmed this week that the singer is not, in fact, an Adopted Son of the Province, after requests were made for the title to be revoked. Officials explained that while a process to grant the honour was approved in 2009, it was never completed, meaning the distinction was never formally awarded.
In Benidorm, the debate has also reached the local level. The coalition Compromís has called for the Julio Iglesias Auditorium to be renamed and for a wider review of public honours associated with the singer. Party spokespersons argued that publicly owned cultural spaces “cannot remain detached from debates around equality and the fight against gender-based violence”. They stressed that reviewing honours does not amount to judging an artist’s entire career.
Benidorm mayor Toni Pérez has urged caution, appealing to the presumption of innocence. “In Spain, there is a rule of law where the presumption of innocence prevails,” he said, while noting Iglesias’s role in promoting the city internationally.
As investigations continue and political pressure builds, the coming days are likely to be decisive in determining whether one of Spain’s most famous cultural honours is withdrawn.
Image: wikicommons
