Mercedes Garrido, who was the minister of the presidency for much of Francina Armengol's second term as Balearic president, has been summoned for questioning by a Palma court investigating a complaint of workplace harassment lodged by a government civil servant. The court has also called Juan Pedro Yllanes, who was government vice-president from 2019 to 2023. The hearing is set for next month.
The case was opened in 2023, the initial complaint having referred to alleged acts of "harassment, contempt, humiliation, and degrading treatment". There were subsequently additions to this initial complaint.
The two former ministers plus five senior officials have been accused of failing to protect the civil servant and of failing to investigate and activate anti-harassment procedures. Possible falsification of several documents and disclosure of secrets are alleged. The woman first filed a complaint of harassment in 2020. The Ombudsman, the employment inspectorate, and the workplace harassment services were involved.
In parallel to these criminal proceedings, there is also an administrative case. This relates to a decision not to impose sanctions on the woman's superior. It is currently under consideration by the Balearic High Court. The decision to close the administrative procedure was made in August 2021 and was signed by Yllanes as minister.
Following the elections in 2023, the woman served as technical general secretary at the Council of Mallorca but was dismissed earlier this year following various incidents; there was also a complaint of workplace harassment.