The Spanish judiciary has summoned the country’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, to testify as a witness in an investigation concerning his wife, Begoña Gómez. She faces allegations related to influence peddling and corruption in business dealings. Following this announcement, the opposition has called for Sánchez’s resignation.
Judge Juan Carlos Peinado of the Court of Instruction Number 41 in Madrid made the decision. The testimony is scheduled for July 30 at 11:00 AM local time.
The situation has raised eyebrows, especially among those who prefer to control the narrative. Professional and critical journalism is a cornerstone of democracy, and it often frustrates those who believe they possess the ultimate truth.
According to a statement from Europa Press, the testimony will take place at La Moncloa, the official residence of the Prime Minister. The Criminal Procedure Law states that if the Prime Minister must testify about matters he was not aware of in the course of his duties, the judge will visit his official residence for the proceedings. Nonetheless, the law also exempts the spouse of an investigated individual from having to testify, although legal experts confirm that this does not negate the obligation to appear.
Begoña Gómez is accused of possibly favoring companies contracted by the Spanish government. In preparation for her interrogation, which is set for July 30, the judge has requested that IT services from the Community of Madrid, alongside judicial police officers, be present at La Moncloa a day earlier. Additionally, two technical staff members will accompany the judicial commission in case of any incidents during the testimony.
It is expected that Sánchez’s testimonial will be recorded and included in a case that already involves three individuals: Begoña Gómez, Joaquín Goyache (the rector of the Complutense University of Madrid), and businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés. The Madrid Public Prosecutor’s Office plans to challenge the judge’s decision to summon Sánchez as a witness. Sources related to the case revealed that the prosecutor intends to ask the judge to revoke this recent ruling.
This investigation scrutinizes all actions, behaviors, and conduct engaged in by Begoña Gómez since her husband became Prime Minister, based on an initial complaint submitted by the Manos Limpias union. It also examines her alleged connections with Barrabés and related contracts that were not included in the European Prosecutor’s Office investigations.
In the ruling, the judge argues that it is “convenient, useful, and pertinent” to hear from the spouse of the investigated party. However, according to Article 416 of the Criminal Procedure Law, Pedro Sánchez, as Gómez’s spouse, is technically exempt from the obligation to testify.
Earlier, in April, the prosecutor had requested the dismissal of the Manos Limpias complaint that initiated the investigation. The prosecutor also urged the Madrid Auditory to narrow the scope of the case, arguing that the judge was conducting a “general” investigation.
Begoña Gómez chose to remain silent, exercising her right not to testify based on her lawyer’s recommendation, who expressed concerns about the lack of guarantees in the ongoing procedure. Her attorney, Antonio Camacho, clarified that her decision was not due to having something to hide, but rather a cautionary measure advised by her legal counsel.
Gómez is under investigation for her ties with companies negotiating public aid or participating in public tenders. She was initially called to testify due to accusations of influence peddling and business corruption stemming from the Manos Limpias complaint. Various groups, such as Vox and Hazte Oír, have also joined the prosecution alongside the public prosecutor.
The recent summons followed a suspension of her previous hearing, instigated because Gómez claimed ignorance of the charges against her, and her defense noted that one of the allegations had not been formally notified to her.
Moreover, upon learning of the judge’s decision to summon Sánchez, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the Popular Party (PP), urged the Prime Minister to draft his “definitive letter of resignation,” recalling similar advice he previously offered to former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in 2017 after Rajoy was summoned by the courts. Feijóo asserted that Sánchez must speak the truth, something he claimed the Prime Minister is unaccustomed to.
Feijóo expressed regret that the first time Sánchez would publicly address the ongoing corruption case would be in a court setting. He criticized the government for avoiding accountability, saying that while individuals facing allegations have the right to remain silent, a government should always provide transparency, especially regarding corruption allegations reaching the Palacio de la Moncloa.
He remarked how unfortunate it is that the first time Sánchez will discuss the corruption scandal involving his wife will be as a witness before a judge. The PP leader urged Sánchez to follow his own past advice and resign honorably.
In a broader context, Feijóo contrasted Sánchez’s situation with that of U.S. President Joe Biden, who recently announced he would not seek reelection. He noted how Biden’s decision exemplifies the principle that some politicians prioritize their country and party over personal interests, wishing for that level of responsibility among politicians in Spain.
Source: https://www.perfil.com/noticias/internacional/la-justicia-cito-a-pedro-sanchez-a-declarar-en-el-caso-de-corrupcion-de-su-esposa-y-la-oposicion-pidio-que-presente-su-renuncia.phtml
