The European Parliament sanctions the socialist deputy Mónica Silvana for “psychological harassment” of attendees

The European Parliament has imposed a penalty of 10,140 euros and 30 days of suspension of her parliamentary activity to the PSOE MEP Monica Silvana (Buenos Aires, 46 years old) for “psychological harassment” of three of his parliamentary assistants.

The sanction has been announced by the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, at the start of the plenary session to be held this Tuesday in Strasbourg. The MEP you can still bring an internal appeal to the table, the internal body of administrative and regulatory management of the Eurochamber. An appeal that would have a suspensive effect on the punitive measures.

“I have decided to impose a sanction on Monica Silvana Gonzalez (…) as a result of his behavior towards his three accredited parliamentary assistants, which constituted psychological harassment,” Metsola explained to the plenary session.

The punishment is based on conclusions of the advisory committee of the European Parliament dealing with complaints about harassment between attendees and MEPs. The president has also taken into account the allegations of the defendant herself, who was notified of the decision this Monday.

Specifically, the penalty is equivalent to loss for 30 days of the “daily allowance” received by MEPs for their activity, which amounts to 338 euros. That is, a total of 10,140 euros. To this we must add the suspension of Silvana’s participation in all the activities of the Eurochamber, also for a period of 30 days.

The president of the socialists in the European Parliament, Iratxe Garciahas expressed the “absolute respect” to Metsola’s decision and has said that the socialist group will apply the same sanction to Silvana with regard to the suspension of activity.

Mónica Silvana began her political career in 2007 as member of the executive of the PSOE of Alcalá de Henaresof whose city council she was a councilor between 2007 and 2015. She has also been a parliamentarian in the Madrid Assembly between 2007 and 2015.

She was elected MEP in the May 2019 elections. In the European Parliament, she is vice president of the delegation for relations with Mercosur and a member of the Development Committee and the Euro-Latin American parliamentary assembly.

Since 2018, The European Parliament has reinforced measures to prevent and address harassment. Among other things, the functioning of the consultative committee that deals with complaints of harassment against MEPs has been strengthened and a code of conduct for parliamentarians in the exercise of their functions has been introduced.

Also, attendee contracts are held until the expiration date original in cases in which harassment by their MEP is verified. A confidential counselor network has also been created, which is available to staff members who wish to seek advice and guidance.