Maria João Rodrigues, vice chair of the Socialists and Democrats group in the European Parliament, has been left off the European election candidate list of Portugal’s Socialist Party (PS).
The PS announced its list for the May election on Thursday, but there was no place for Rodrigues.
Earlier this year, POLITICO reported that the Parliament has opened a harassment investigation into Rodrigues. The complainant made nine separate allegations against her, including attempts to reduce working hours and salary of a staff member after maternity leave, asking an employee on sick leave to carry out late-night tasks and demanding staff work well beyond normal office hours.
According to a Parliament official, the complaint against Rodrigues was lodged in June last year and several people who worked with her have already spoken to the investigating committee.
Rodrigues, a former government minister, has been a staunch advocate of the European Commission’s “social pillar” policy, which aims to bolster workers’ rights.