Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose wife is accused of corruption, takes a break from public duties

Updated 3 hours ago

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has suspended public duties to “stop and think” about whether he will remain in office after a court opened a preliminary investigation into his wife.

In his written statement, the Spanish leader said he had to decide urgently “whether to continue leading the government or reject this honour.”

The court announced that it had taken action for corruption allegations against Begona Gomez.

Sanchez, on the other hand, stated that he would defend his wife’s honor and work in the judiciary.

The complaint against Begona Gomez was filed by anti-corruption campaigner Manos Limpias (Clean Hands). The community has been involved in cases that have received significant media coverage in recent years and has a leader with links to the far right.

The Spanish Prime Minister stated that he will announce his decision in front of the media on April 29 and will consider whether staying in power is worth staying in the “mud where the right and the far right are trying to turn politics.”

In his long statement on the X platform, Sanchez

The court did not disclose the details of the accusations against Begoma Gomez, but stated that allegations of influence peddling and corruption were being investigated.

However, El Confidencial website stated that the investigation will focus on Gomez’s connections with companies that receive public money and tenders.

In particular, the “sponsorship agreement” made between the tourism group Globalia and the foundation called IE Africa Center, which it managed in 2020, was mentioned. Globalia received 475 million euros from the state to save the airline company Air Europa during the Covid 19 crisis in 2020.

While the conservative People’s Party (PP) in Spain demanded an explanation in the parliament, the Prime Minister responded that he believed in justice “despite everything”.

Spanish media reported that Sanchez went from parliament to his residence in Madrid upset. The Prime Minister then accused PP Leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo of collaborating with the far-right Vox to oust him.