The Petitions Committee Secretariat has advised that two complaints filed by members of the People’s Party about alleged abuses involving minors protected by the Generalitat should be treated as part of a single discussion in the European Parliament today. The initiative aims to address a widely circulated hoax that described a network of child exploitation, harassment, satanic rituals, pornographic production, and the murder of minors. This case has drawn scrutiny from across EU institutions as lawmakers scrutinize claims that were circulated broadly and later evaluated for factual accuracy.
A supposed conspiracy, allegedly rooted in a public bar in Castellón, has been the subject of a long-running, unverified narrative dating back to the 1990s. The story has involved two former PP leaders and a Castellón judge among others. Although there is no proof of the network’s existence, the matter advanced to court scrutiny, focusing on alleged efforts to spread misinformation about child abuse and on charges including crimes against moral integrity, crimes against the administration of justice, crimes against honor, and actions conducted in the exercise of fundamental rights and public freedoms. One person accused of spreading the fraud has lodged a complaint with the Petitions Committee, which, through their legal counsel, has cleared an initial hurdle to bring the issue before the European Parliament for discussion. [Cited: Petitions Committee records]
The Petitions Committee Secretariat views the complaint as admissible and is seeking information from the European Commission and from Members of the European Parliament on September 13. In that session, lawmakers will be expected to outline their positions. The Secretariat reports to the head of the European People’s Party caucus, the MEP and former health minister Dolors Montserrat, regarding how this matter will be handled and prioritized. [Cited: EPP caucus communications]
On today’s agenda, two separate complaints submitted by Elena Bastidas, a member of the PP in the Cortes, and Ana María Gil Jiménez, the party’s representative for the Abastos district, are scheduled for consideration during the plenary session of the Petitions Committee. Bastidas is slated to appear before the European Parliament, and an official from the Ministry of Equality is also expected to participate in the proceedings. The proceedings underscore ongoing attention to how petitions on sensitive social issues are received and adjudicated within EU legislative bodies, including issues related to the evidentiary basis, due process, and the protection of vulnerable groups. [Cited: EU parliamentary proceedings notes]”