The Hate Crimes Division of the Valencia Provincial Prosecutor’s Office has opened investigative proceedings following a message posted on the social network Twitter aimed at Nuria Montes, the regional minister responsible for Innovation, Industry, Commerce, and Tourism. The public prosecutor’s office initiated this inquiry at the request of the police, which reported the insults to Montes. The case is being handled by the head of the division, Prosecutor Susana Gisbert, and centers on alleged hate crime based on gender and age.
About two weeks ago, a user directed insults at Montes over her attire during a moment of silence held in Valencia to condemn a gender-based crime in Villena. Specifically, the commenter wrote about an image from the moment of remembrance shared by the Generalitat Valenciana: “To the elderly woman in fuchsia, someone can tell her she is not old enough to dress like a Madame of a road-side brothel.” The minister herself said she would report the message to the police to determine whether it constitutes any crime and lamented that women constantly face such insults, often delivered from the anonymity of social networks. These remarks were made in the context of a public discussion about gendered violence and the visibility of women in public life.
The president of the Valencian Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, condemned the insults, describing the sender as cowardly and expressing strong disapproval. He stated that the woman in fuchsia dresses as she pleases and is free and worthy of respect. Other members of the regional government echoed that sentiment, including the minister for the Environment, Salomé Pradas, who urged not to pay attention to the cowardly and misogynistic comments and affirmed that Montes is authentic and admirable, regardless of appearance or life choices. These responses underscored a broader political stance against gender-based harassment online and in public forums, emphasizing support for women who face these attacks and the right to live without scrutiny over their clothing, appearance, or lifestyle choices. For many observers, this incident highlighted the persistent challenge of online harassment and the responsibility of authorities to address it through legal channels and public condemnation alike.
Similarly, the mayor of Valencia, María José Catalá, voiced her support for Montes, affirming solidarity with Montes and all women who endure this type of crude insult. She emphasized that those who insult others—whoever they are and wherever they vote—should be confronted, and she called for an end to double standards in defending women’s dignity. Law enforcement officials subsequently provided the information about the Twitter post to the Prosecutor’s Office, which led to the decision to pursue potential criminal liability through formal investigative steps. The developments, reported by Europa Press, stress the ongoing cooperation between police authorities and the judiciary in handling cases of online harassment that target public figures and professionals who advocate for gender equality and social progress. These events also reflect broader societal concerns about the treatment of women in public life and the ongoing conversations about how best to protect individuals from gendered abuse in digital spaces. (Europa Press attribution)