Testimony of Spanish Prime Minister’s wife before judge in corruption case suspended

The wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrived at a Madrid court on Friday to testify before a judge as part of a preliminary investigation into corruption in her business dealings. But the hearing was quickly suspended and a new date set for July 19.

Last month, a Madrid court summoned Begona Gomez to testify “as a party under investigation” as part of a judicial inquiry into “alleged crimes of corruption in the private sector and influence peddling.”

The case has enraged the Socialist leader, who claims it is politically motivated.

Gomez arrived at a Madrid court just before 10:30 a.m. (08:30 GMT) to attend a closed hearing before Judge Juan Carlos Peinado, who is leading the preliminary investigation, an AFP correspondent at the scene said.

However, one of her lawyers successfully fought for the suspension, citing the fact that she had not been informed of all the charges against her, a court source said.

The preliminary investigation was launched on April 16 in response to a complaint filed by the anti-corruption NGO Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), which is linked to the far-right.

The right-wing opposition has seized on the case as evidence that Sanchez and his leftist government are corrupt.

However, he condemned it as a smear campaign.

Earlier this week, Sanchez told Cadena SER radio that he felt “completely calm and confident” because there was “absolutely nothing” to the accusations, condemning a “legal harassment strategy aimed at overthrowing” his government.

In addition to the Catalan amnesty law, the Gomez case has complicated life for Sanchez, whose brother is also under investigation for corruption following another complaint by Manos Limpias, which has sparked a wave of criticism from the right.

“It is an insult to the intelligence of all Spanish women when her husband simply says there is nothing wrong with it,” thundered Miguel Tellado, spokesman for the right-wing opposition Popular Party (PP).

When news of the investigation emerged in late April, Sanchez shocked Spain by saying he was considering resigning because of what he described as a campaign of political persecution by the right.

After five days of consideration, he finally decided to stay.

Prosecutors in Madrid filed a motion to dismiss the case due to lack of evidence, but their request was rejected and an investigating judge issued a summons in July, just days before Spain voted in European Parliament elections.

– European involvement –
Legal documents show the investigation is focusing on Gomez’s professional ties to consultant Carlos Barrabes.

In documents released in late May, the court said it was examining two letters of support that Gomez allegedly provided in 2020 to a joint venture bidding for several public contracts.

The main shareholder in the joint venture was Barrabes, who also had ties to the department at the Complutense University of Madrid headed by Gomez.

It won the tender, beating 20 rivals, and received 10.2 million euros ($11.1 million).

Earlier this week, an investigating judge said Gomez was being investigated for “all her actions, behaviour and behavior… since her husband became prime minister.”

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who was for many years a judge at Spain’s highest criminal court, said he found the statement “troubling” and suggested the investigation may be going beyond its legal remit.

Part of the investigation into European funds has been transferred to Brussels.

“We can confirm that we have partially taken over the investigation… on 6 June,” the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) said in a statement to AFP, without giving further details.

– ‘Tip of the iceberg’ –
Gomez, who graduated in marketing from the private university ESIC in Madrid and has a master’s degree in management, has specialised in fundraising for years, particularly for foundations and non-governmental organisations.

During her career she held a number of positions, including at consulting firm Inmark Europa and at Complutense University.

The issue has sparked a political war of words, with Popular Party leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo telling Onda Cero radio this week that Sanchez should take responsibility.

“The political responsibility lies with her husband. His behavior is completely unacceptable, at least from an ethical point of view,” he said.

“I’m not naive about why they’re doing it,” Sanchez told Cadena SER.

“Politically, they are trying to put an end to this progressive coalition government.”

PP’s Tellado said the crux of the matter was simple.

“To what extent did Sanchez know about what was happening, and to what extent did he play a leading role? We have no doubt that Begona Gomez is just the tip of the iceberg in this scandal.”