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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been called to testify in a criminal investigation into corruption allegations against his wife, dramatically increasing the importance of the case.
The judge’s decision, announced Monday, Sanchez Trump is due to be questioned as a witness at his residence on July 30 as part of an investigation that he says is part of a right-wing smear campaign.
The investigation into Sanchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, Spanish Politics The situation worsened when Mr Sanchez returned to power last year as leader of a fragile coalition after inconclusive elections and took a five-day leave of absence to consider his future when he took office in April.
The case centers on allegations of influence peddling and corruption surrounding Gomez’s business dealings. Sanchez has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged.
Madrid High Court judge Juan Carlos Peinado said that given the need to investigate “possible” ties between Gomez and the authorities, “it is considered convenient, useful and appropriate to take a statement from the husband of the person under investigation.”
Yolanda Diaz, deputy prime minister in the Socialist-led government, said she was “astonished by what is happening.” Sanchez’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Gomez was called to testify in court last Friday but exercised his right not to answer questions. He has not commented publicly on the case.
Borja Semper, a spokesman for the main opposition conservative Popular Party, said the prime minister’s problem was “ethical” and not just a judicial one, adding that “Spanish people are ashamed of this enduring scandal.”
The last time a sitting Spanish prime minister was called to give evidence in a judicial case was in 2017, when PP Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was called in for a corruption case that led to the conviction of several members of his party.
PP leader Alberto Nunez Feihou recalled on Monday that Sánchez had urged Rajoy to step down at the time. Sanchez Someone who should quit right now.
The investigation into Gomes began with a complaint from Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), a group with ties to the far right and a history of bringing politically charged cases.
In a letter to the public at the start of his preliminary plea hearing, Sanchez said he had been the target of a right-wing campaign of “harassment and destruction,” including against political opponents and the media.
After Gomez was formally investigated in June, he wrote another letter saying, “I will not give in.”
“I would like to believe that Mr. Peinado is not biased in this case,” Mr. Sanchez said in a radio interview this month.
He also said his wife had “filed several appeals asking the judge to clarify why she was called to testify, but has yet to receive a response.”
