Pedro Sanchez will deliver his decision next Monday to the press, while his wife is the target of an investigation for “influence peddling and corruption”.
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Pedro Sanchez in turmoil. Spanish Prime Minister says “to reflect on” to a possible resignation, Wednesday April 24, after the announcement of the opening of an investigation against his wife for “influence peddling and corruption”. “I need to stop and think whether I should continue to be head of government or whether I should give up this honor”, has declared the head of government, before specifying that his decision will be communicated next Monday to the press, and that he suspends his activities until then.
The elected socialist reacted to the opening of a preliminary investigation on April 16 against his wife Begoña Gómez in a long letter posted on his X account. This affair had been revealed earlier in the day by Le media El Confidencial. It concerns “alleged crimes of influence peddling and corruption”after a complaint from the association Clean hands (“Clean hands” in French), close to the extreme right.
Begoña Gómez’s links with private companies in the sights of justice
The Superior Court of Justice of Madrid wishes clarify Begoña Gómez’s links with private companies that received public aid during the Covid-19 pandemic or signed contracts with the State, while her husband was at the head of government. According to El Confidencial, IE Africa Center had “signed a sponsorship agreement with Globalia in 2020” and Begoña Gomez would have participated in “a private meeting with its CEO Javier Hidalgo at the time when Globalia was negotiating its multi-million euro bailout plan with the government” by Pedro Sanchez.
This plan allowed Air Europa to receive 475 million euros in November 2020, from a 10 billion fund intended to support strategic companies in difficulty due to the health crisis. The Spanish company was the first company to benefit from this fund. Dozens of others followed, including several of its competitors (Iberia, Vueling, Volotea…). The right-wing opposition on Wednesday called on the Prime Minister to “give explanations to the Spanish”through the voice of Ester Muñoz, member of the leadership of the Popular Party.
