Spain’s PM Pedro Sanchez Declines to Testify in Wife’s Corruption Case

Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, has declined to testify as a witness in a judicial investigation involving alleged corruption and influence peddling by his wife, Begona Gomez. This case, which led Sanchez to contemplate resignation in April, centers on whether Gomez used her position as the premier’s wife to secure sponsors for a university master’s degree course she managed.

The accusations, which Sanchez has repeatedly denied, have been described by him as baseless and politically motivated attacks orchestrated by right-wing opponents. Despite his denials, the state attorney’s office has filed a lawsuit on Sanchez’s behalf against the investigating judge, alleging malfeasance.

Government spokesperson Pilar Alegria stated, “This lawsuit is intended to respect the independence of the judiciary, but also to defend it from the practices of those who operate for political motives and outside the law.” Gomez has not publicly commented on the case.

During a brief two-minute testimony at the Moncloa palace, Sanchez answered two questions from Judge Juan Carlos Peinado: whether he was related to any of the people under investigation and whether he wished to testify. Sanchez confirmed Gomez was his wife and declined to testify, a right afforded under Spanish law to close relatives, including spouses.

The hearing took place in the presence of Gomez’s lawyer, former Interior Minister Antonio Camacho, representatives of the prosecutor, and a lawyer from the far-right party VOX, which utilizes a legal mechanism known as “the people’s accusation” to allow private individuals to bring criminal complaints against others.

The investigation has caused significant political turmoil. In late April, Sanchez took a five-day break from his duties to consider resigning but ultimately chose to remain in office. This incident marks the first time a sitting Spanish prime minister has been summoned to testify in a judicial case since Sanchez’s predecessor, Mariano Rajoy, in 2017. Rajoy’s testimony in a graft case led to the conviction of several members of his conservative People’s Party and a 2018 vote of no confidence, paving the way for Sanchez to become prime minister.

As the investigation continues, the political landscape in Spain remains tense, with Sanchez facing both legal and public scrutiny amidst ongoing protests and political opposition.

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