Court summons wife of Spanish premier over corruption allegations

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - A Madrid court on Tuesday summoned the wife of the Spanish prime minister to testify over corruption allegations related to her business dealings.

Begona Gomez is set to appear in court on July 5 as part of a preliminary inquiry over whether she used her influence as the prime minister’s wife inappropriately.

When the probe was first opened, Sanchez threatened to resign, denouncing the case as harassment brought by right-wing groups and media.

On Tuesday evening, Sanchez published a letter addressed to Spanish citizens on X defending his wife and questioning the timing of the court’s announcement that she will testify.

“This decision is being announced just five days before the European Parliament elections, which seems strange,” Sanchez said, adding that he and his wife only found out about her being summoned through the media.

“In the days to come, you will witness a careful choreography designed by the far-right coalition to sway the elections and weaken the government,” he added in his letter, pointing to the leaders of Popular Party and Vox as the promoters of this news item. “It’s all a lie.”

Sanchez defended his wife, who has not spoken publicly on the investigation since it was first opened in April.

“She is a hard-working and honest woman who upholds her right to work without quitting due to the responsibilities of her husband,” he said, adding that the couple is “calm” because “there is nothing behind the accusation.”

Meanwhile, head of the Popular Party Alberto Nunez Feijoo once again called for Sanchez to step down. “He has to assume his political responsibility,” he said at a campaign rally.

In his letter, the Spanish premier said he remains “more firm than ever” in his decision to continue leading the government.

The case against Gomez was brought by a private complaint from activist group Manos Limpias, a group founded by extreme right-wing activist Miguel Bernad Remon, who a court ruled was involved in extortion and fraud from the group. He, however, was later absolved.

Gomez has a degree in marketing, and before her husband became prime minister she worked as the head of consulting in the Inmark Group, according to El Pais.

From there, the Spanish daily said she was hired by IE University, where she led the Africa Innovation Center from 2018 to 2022.

Since 2020, she has been the extraordinary Chair of Competitive Social Transformation of the Complutense University of Madrid, according to the university.