Ismael Álvarez (politician)

Ismael Álvarez Rodríguez (born 13 July 1950)[1] is a Spanish former politician. As a member of the People's Party, he was a councillor in Ponferrada between 1991 and 2002, and the city's mayor from 1995. He was also a member of the Cortes of Castile and León from 1999 to 2002, and of the Senate of Spain from 1993 to 1996.

In 2002, Álvarez was convicted of the sexual harassment of Nevenka Fernández, a councillor in his local government. He was the first Spanish politician to be convicted of the offence, and resigned his offices. He returned to politics as the leader of a localist party and was re-elected to the council in 2011, resigning in 2013 per a pact with the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party.

Biography

Early life and career

Álvarez was born in Dehesas (León) in Ponferrada. He graduated with a law degree.[1]

Running for the People's Party (PP), he was elected to the city council in 1991 and was the leader of the opposition to Celso López Gavela, mayor since 1979 of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). In 1995, López Gavela did not run and the PP gained three seats, making Álvarez mayor. As mayor, he had factories opened in the city to counteract the decline of the mining industry.[1]

Sexual harassment conviction

In March 2001, Nevenka Fernández, the councillor in charge of finances in Álvarez's government, resigned and accused him of a year-long campaign of sexual harassment. He was convicted in May 2002.[2] In November 2003, the Supreme Court of Spain upheld his conviction but reduced the punishment upon ruling that there was not an abuse of authority; his fine was reduced from €6,480 to €2,160, in addition to €12,000 compensation to Fernández.[3]

The case resulted in the first conviction of a Spanish politician for sexual harassment.[4] In 2024, the case was portrayed in the film I'm Nevenka, with Urko Olazabal as Álvarez.[5]

Return to politics

In September 2010, Álvarez announced he would be running for a new party in the 2011 local elections.[6] His Independientes Agrupados de Ponferrada (IAP) won five seats and held the balance of power, allowing Carlos López Riesco to become mayor.[7] On 9 March 2013, after supporting a PSOE motion to remove López Riesco and replace him with Samuel Folgueral Arias, he resigned per the agreement.[8] In April 2015, he announced that his party would dissolve and not contest the upcoming election.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d García Nistal, Alejandro J. (1 April 2015). "Ismael Álvarez no se presentará y anuncia la disolución de IAP" [Ismael Álvarez will not run for election and announces the dissolution of the IAP]. El Bierzo Digital (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  2. ^ Castro Salillas, Sergio (2 October 2025). "Nevenka Fernández: "Para cuando te tocan el culo ya no eres nadie, porque tu acosador te ha destruido"" [Nevenka Fernández: "When they touch your arse you are already nobody, because your harasser has destroyed you"] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  3. ^ Remírez de Ganuza, Carmen (17 November 2003). "El TS confirma la condena por el 'caso Nevenka' aunque elimina la agravante de abuso de autoridad" [Supreme Court confirms the conviction in the 'Nevenka case' but eliminates the aggravating factor of abuse of authority]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Caso Nevenka: ¿Qué pasó con Ismael Álvarez después de su histórica condena por acoso sexual?" [Nevenka case: What happened with Ismael Álvarez after his historic conviction for sexual harassment?]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 1 October 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  5. ^ Szalai, Georg (23 September 2024). "Iciar Bollain on Focusing Sexual Harassment Drama 'I Am Nevenka' on the Victim and Using Sounds of an Old Nokia Phone to Chilling Effect". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  6. ^ González, Diego L. (3 September 2010). "Ismael Álvarez vuelve para luchar por la alcaldía de Ponferrada" [Ismael Álvarez returns to fight for being mayor of Ponferrada]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  7. ^ García Nistal, Alejandro J. (26 September 2017). "2011: López Riesco, alcalde con el apoyo de Ismael Álvarez" [2011: López Riesco, mayor with the support of Ismael Álvarez]. El Bierzo Digital (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  8. ^ Charro, Sandra (9 March 2013). "El edil condenado por acoso presenta su renuncia tras la moción en Ponferrada" [Councillor convicted of harassment presents his resignation after the motion of no confidence in Ponferrada]. El Mundo (in Spanish). EFE. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
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