Pedro Sanchez has announced a leave of absence from public duties until next week to reflect on whether he will continue in the role. The Court has authorized the opening of an investigation against his wife, in an action in which the prime minister indicates a political motivation The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, said on Wednesday (24/04) that he is considering the possibility of resigning after a period of inactivity. The court authorized the opening of an investigation against his wife.
“I need to stop and think,” Sanchez said in a letter published on X, formerly Twitter, announcing that he would suspend his public duties until Monday, when he has made a decision.
“I urgently need an answer to the question of whether (…) I should continue to lead the government or give up this honor,” he wrote.
Why is Sanchez’s wife under investigation?
The announcement came after a Spanish court said it had opened a preliminary investigation into whether Begona Gomez had abused her position as the prime minister’s wife to allegedly secure sponsors for a master’s degree she taught.
Gomez, 49, holds no public office and keeps a low political profile.
The court said it had opened an investigation into “influence peddling and corruption” in response to a complaint by anti-corruption activist group Manos Limpias (“Clean Hands”), whose leader has links to Spain’s far right .
Socialist Sanchez, who formed a new left-wing coalition government in November after offering amnesty to exiled Catalan separatists, said in his letter that the complaint was based on “non-existent” facts and was part of a campaign of “harassment” against his wife. driven by the “ultra-conservative” media and supported by the conservative and far-right opposition.
“I am not naive. I know that they are accusing Begona not because she did something illegal, because they know very well that is not true, but because she is my wife,” he added.
Although Manos Limpias calls itself a trade union, its main activity is the initiation of legal actions, such as the so-called “popular accusation”. This peculiarity of Spanish law allows individuals or entities to participate in certain criminal proceedings, even if they have not been directly harmed by the defendant.
Spanish Justice Minister Felix Bolanos called the accusations against Gomez “false”.
Asked in Parliament whether he thought the justice system was working in light of the court’s ruling, Sanchez responded: “On a day like this and after hearing the news, despite everything, I still believe in the justice system of this country.”
bl (AFP, AP)
Source: Terra
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