Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is set to testify on July 30 in a preliminary corruption inquiry concerning his wife Begona Gomez's business connections, according to a Madrid court announcement on Monday. This matter had previously led Sanchez to contemplate resignation three months ago.
The ongoing investigation into alleged corruption and influence peddling has deeply frustrated Sanchez, who views the accusations as an attempt to destabilize his left-wing administration. Judge Juan Carlos Peinado will interview Sanchez as a "witness" at 11am on July 30 at his official residence. The court will question him about potential influence peddling by his wife.
Sanchez has yet to address parliament or the media regarding this issue; he is now required to provide explanations before a judge, as stated by Borja Semper, spokesperson for the main opposition People's Party. Semper emphasized that "nobody is above the law, not the prime minister or his entourage, all politicians should understand this." Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party, declared, "We have always said that we will use all the means at our disposal to end the most corrupt government in history."
Gomez exercised her right to remain silent during a recent judicial questioning. Earlier, on July 5, her hearing was postponed after her lawyer claimed they had not been fully informed about the complaints against her. The investigation commenced on April 16 after a complaint from the anti-graft NGO Manos Limpias, which is associated with the far-right, alleging corruption and influence peddling based on media reports. A second complaint, focusing on influence peddling, was lodged by the ultra-Catholic pressure group Hazte Oir, also linked to the far-right.
Sanchez has consistently defended his wife, asserting she has done nothing wrong. His justice minister, Felix Bolanos, also came to her defense. Gomez, known for her fundraising work for foundations and NGOs, is accused of leveraging her husband's position in her professional dealings, particularly with businessman Juan Carlos Barrabes, who was seeking public funding. Barrabes, who teaches part of a master's course at Madrid's Complutense University managed by Gomez, admitted to meeting her several times at the Moncloa, the premier's official residence, with Sanchez present at two of those meetings.
Barrabes, who received two letters of recommendation from Gomez prior to bidding for a public tender worth millions of euros, claimed their discussions were solely about innovation. Sanchez's Socialist party maintains that such meetings were normal for the prime minister, and a recent police report to the court found no irregularities involving Gomez. Despite the public prosecutor's office calling for the case to be closed due to lack of evidence, Judge Peinado insists on continuing the investigation, citing sufficient evidence.
When the investigation became public in April, Sanchez considered resigning, describing the situation as a campaign of political harassment by the right. Ultimately, he chose to remain in office.
