Spanish Prime Minister To Testify In Investigation Into Wife’s Corruption Case
The proceedings are part of a preliminary investigation into whether Begona Gomez, Sanchez’s wife, used her position to secure sponsors for a university master’s degree course she ran.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been summoned to testify in an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption and influence peddling involving his wife.
The investigation, which led Sanchez to consider resigning in April, will see him interviewed by investigating judge Juan Carlos Peinado at the Moncloa palace on July 30.
The proceedings are part of a preliminary investigation into whether Begona Gomez, Sanchez’s wife, used her position to secure sponsors for a university master’s degree course she ran.
Peinado said Sanchez’s testimony would be “convenient, useful and relevant” for the investigation to establish whether there was influence peddling.
Gomez appeared before the judge on Friday but declined to answer questions, Reuters reports.
Sanchez’s wife has not publicly addressed the allegations, while Sanchez has denied the accusations, describing them as unfounded and politically motivated.
In April, the Socialist leader took a brief leave of absence to consider his position after the investigation began, but ultimately decided to continue in his role.
This marks the first instance of a sitting Spanish prime minister being summoned to testify in a judicial case since 2017, when Mariano Rajoy was called as a witness in a corruption case involving members of his conservative People’s Party.
