Spain: The public prosecutor's office, under Pedro Sánchez, now supports an investigation into Julio Iglesias for alleged sexual offenses

The Spanish public prosecutor's office has requested the reopening of the case against Julio Iglesias, who was accused of sexual offenses and human trafficking by two former employees, so that he may be prosecuted months after this same public institution dismissed an initial complaint against the singer.

The public prosecutor's office issued a report recommending that the case be reopened, calling for an investigation into the acts allegedly committed by Iglesias and for him to be prosecuted if warranted.

It now remains to be seen whether the courts will decide to open an investigation against Iglesias and bring him to trial.

The complaint has been shelved for now

In early 2026, two former employees, who used the pseudonyms Laura and Rebeca to protect their identities, filed a complaint against Iglesias accusing him of crimes such as "sexual and physical violence." Both were represented by Women's Link Worldwide, a feminist organization that describes itself as a defender of women's rights.

"According to the complaint filed, Laura and Rebeca allegedly experienced multiple and various forms of violence, sexual, psychological, physical, and economic, at the hands of Julio Iglesias between January and October 2021," Women's Link Worldwide stated in a press release.

"On Jan. 5, facts were brought to the attention of the (Spanish) public prosecutor's office 'that could constitute a crime of human trafficking for the purpose of imposing forced labor and servitude,' 'crimes against sexual freedom and integrity, such as sexual harassment,' as well as a crime of bodily injury and crimes against workers' rights," the organization added. "[Iglesias] allegedly assaulted and sexually harassed them, regularly checked their cell phones, prohibited them from leaving the house where they worked, and required them to work up to 16 hours a day, with no days off and no contract."

The singer categorically denied these allegations, calling them "false."

"I deny having abused, coerced, or disrespected any woman. Those accusations are absolutely false and cause me great sadness," said Iglesias. "It is with deep regret that I respond to the accusations made by two people who previously worked in my home."

Days later, the Spanish courts decided to dismiss the complaint due to the "lack of jurisdiction of the Spanish courts," as the alleged crimes were committed abroad (specifically, in the Dominican Republic). In addition, the singer sued Univision and the Spanish newspaper eldiario.es for accusing him without evidence of "rape and physical assault" in various reports they published about the case over the years, which succeeded in discrediting him.

A decision with electoral implications?

This plot twist does not seem coincidental. With just over a month left until the general elections in Spain, the public prosecutor's office, which reports to the government of Pedro Sánchez, something he himself has boasted about in some interviews, has changed its mind, setting aside the support it previously gave to closing the case.

This decision, in a case as high-profile as Iglesias's, brings to the forefront one of the political arguments that Sánchez and his party, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), for years to gain public support through an issue as complex as violence against women.

Added to this is the fact that Iglesias has been a supporter for decades of the People's Party (PP), the PSOE's main adversary and a strong contender to win the elections to be held on Nov. 29 and to wrest power from the Socialists.