Madrid: The wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has testified before a judge as part of a preliminary investigation into a corruption probe in a trial that has angered the Socialist leader.
Last month, a Madrid court summoned Begona Gómez to testify on July 5 as an “investigated party” as part of an investigation into “crimes related to corruption in the private sector and the impact of trade.”
He is scheduled to appear at 10:00 (0800 GMT) for a public hearing.
A preliminary investigation was opened on April 16 following a complaint by right-wing anti-corruption NGO Manos Limpias (Clean Hands).
The right-wing opposition pointed to the case as evidence that Sanchez and his leftist government were corrupt.
But he denounced it as a smear campaign.
Earlier this week, Sánchez told Cadena SER radio that he felt “calm and confident” because “there was nothing wrong” with the accusations, citing a prosecution strategy aimed at toppling his government.
Along with Catalonia’s amnesty law, the Gómez case has made life difficult for Sánchez, whose brother Manos Limpias faces a trial that has drawn right-wing criticism for other complaints.
Miguel Tellado, spokesman for the right-wing opposition People’s Party (PP), said: “It would be an insult to all of Spain if he said nothing.”
After news of the investigation broke in late April, Sánchez stunned Spain and announced his resignation amid what he described as a political smear campaign from the right.
After five days of deliberation, he finally decided to stay.
Prosecutors in Madrid asked that the case be dismissed due to a lack of evidence, but it was rejected, the investigating judge issued a call in July, the day before Spain voted in the EU elections.
Legal documents show the investigation focused on the professional relationship between Gomez and consultant Carlos Barrabes.
The court said in documents released in late May that it sought two letters of support from Gomez to propose a joint venture for several public contracts in 2020.
The main shareholder in the joint venture is Barrabes, which is linked to the department of the Complutense University of Madrid, which is run by Gomez.
It beat 20 rivals to the contract and won 10.2 million euros ($11.1 million).
The investigative judge said earlier this week that Gomez was being investigated for “all her actions, behavior and behavior since her husband became prime minister.”
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlasca, who has been a judge at Spain’s top criminal court for several years, said he was “disturbed” by the comments, saying the investigation could stretch beyond its legal mandate.
Part of the investigation into the European funds was carried out in Brussels.
“We can confirm that we partially accepted the investigation … on June 6,” the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) told AFP in a statement.
With a degree in marketing and a master’s degree in management from ESIC, a private university in Madrid, Gomez has specialized for several years in fundraising, especially for foundations and NGOs.
His career took him to various positions, including at Inmark Europe and Complutense University.
The issue sparked a political battle with PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo telling Onda Cero radio this week that Sánchez must be held accountable.
“Political responsibility falls on the man. His behavior is unacceptable, at least from a moral point of view.”
“I don’t know why they did it,” Sanchez told Cadena SER.
Politically, they are trying to end this progressive coalition government.
The bottom line of Tellado PP is simple, he said.
“How much Sanchez knows about what happened and how much of the role he played? There is no question that Begona Gomez was only at the end of this scandal.”
