Prosecutor wants to drop proceedings against Sánchez’s wife

His wife was accused of corruption and he felt harassed because of it. Therefore, Spain’s Prime Minister Sánchez thought about resigning. The public prosecutor’s office has now requested that the investigation be closed.

After Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez considered resigning over a corruption complaint against his wife, Begoña Gómez, the investigation could now be closed. The public prosecutor’s office in Madrid has requested that the preliminary investigation against Gómez be stopped, the TV channel RTVE, the newspaper “El País” and other media reported, citing the judiciary.

At the same time, the prosecution filed an appeal against the admission of the corruption complaint, it was said. A justice spokesman confirmed this information to the dpa news agency. The public prosecutor’s point of view has weight. However, only the judge decides whether to initiate a formal investigation.

Sánchez complains about harassment

Sánchez had previously announced that he was considering resigning. The socialist politician surprisingly announced yesterday on the short message service X that he had canceled all his public appointments “for a few days” to think about it.

The 52-year-old said that he was being harassed by the right and the extreme right using every means possible. “I have to stop and think. I urgently have to answer the question of whether it’s worth it, despite the quagmire in which the right and the right-wing extremists are trying to make politics. Whether I should continue to be at the top of the government or from this high one Honor should resign,” he wrote in a “letter to the public.” On Monday he will appear in front of the press and announce his decision.

Sánchez denies allegations

On Wednesday, the organization “Manos Limpias” (“Clean Hands”) filed a complaint against Sánchez’s wife for corruption and influence in the economy. “Manos Limpias” is a private group that has been pushing a right-wing agenda in Spain for years. She accuses the 49-year-old of having exploited her position as the head of government’s wife to do business. The court did not provide any further information and stated that the investigation was closed.

Sánchez denied the allegations in his letter. His wife will “defend her honor and cooperate with the justice system in any way necessary to make it clear that these facts, which appear scandalous, are in fact non-existent.” He accused news websites that are politically oriented towards the right-wing populist Vox and the conservative People’s Party (PP) of having spread the allegations.

Sánchez and Gómez have been married since 2006 and have two daughters. The head of government’s wife does not hold any public office. She is a marketing expert who has worked for banks and non-governmental organizations, among others. Sánchez has been Prime Minister of Spain since 2018 and currently leads a minority government.