Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been summoned to testify as a witness on July 30 in the ongoing corruption investigation into his wife, Begoña Gómez. Judge Juan Carlos Peinado, who is leading the investigation, has ordered Sánchez to appear in person at the Moncloa Palace, the Prime Minister’s official residence. This marks the first time a sitting Spanish Prime Minister has been called to testify in a judicial case since 2017.The investigation centers on allegations of influence peddling and corruption in Gómez’s business dealings, particularly regarding her role in securing sponsors for a university master’s program she directed. Gómez appeared before the judge on July 19 but declined to answer questions, exercising her right to remain silent.This development has intensified political tensions in Spain. Opposition leaders, including Alberto Núñez Feijóo of the Partido Popular (PP), have called for Sánchez’s resignation. Feijóo reminded Sánchez of his own words in 2017 when he called for then-Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s resignation due to corruption cases. Regional leaders like Alfonso Fernández Mañueco and Marga Prohens have also demanded explanations from Sánchez.Sánchez and his supporters have vehemently denied the accusations. The Prime Minister has characterized the allegations as a ‘defamatory campaign’ aimed at undermining his left-wing government. Government officials, including Minister of Territorial Policy Ángel Víctor Torres, have criticized the investigation, pointing out that it originated from a complaint by a ‘far-right union with false evidence’.The case has sparked a broader debate about the separation of powers and the impact on the Prime Minister’s image. As the investigation proceeds, it continues to be a focal point of political controversy in Spain, highlighting the deep divisions between the government and opposition parties.
Key points
- Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez has been summoned to testify on July 30 in the corruption investigation into his wife, Begoña Gómez.
- The case centers on allegations of influence peddling and corruption in Gómez’s business dealings.
- Opposition leaders have called for Sánchez’s resignation, while government supporters criticize the investigation as politically motivated.
- The case has sparked a broader debate about the separation of powers and government accountability in Spain.
Contradictions👾While some sources report that Sánchez will testify in person at the Moncloa Palace, others suggest he has the legal right to decline to testify or provide written testimony.
