Spain's PM Pedro Sánchez could quit as wife faces investigation over corruption allegations
Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez is “reflecting” on the possibility of resigning after a court opened an investigation into his wife Begona Gomez for alleged corruption.
“I need to stop and think to decide whether I should continue to head the government or whether I should give up this honour,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, adding he would make his decision on Monday.
A Madrid court opened an investigation into Ms Gomez for the alleged offence of influence peddling and corruption following a complaint by an anti-corruption pressure group Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), whose leader is linked to the far-Right.
In his letter, Mr Sanchez added: “I am not naive. I am aware that they are bringing charges against Begona, not because she's done anything illegal... but because she's my wife.”
Ms Gomez is alleged to have met privately with Javier Hidalgo, the chief executive of a tourism holding company, before the Sanchez government granted the Hidalgo family's airline, Air Europa, a bailout of €475million (£407million).
The allegations were made by El Confidencial, a centre-right news website, which reported that Mr Sanchez had participated in the Council of Ministers that authorised the release of the money.
Mr Sanchez said the severity of the allegations against him and his wife warranted a measured response, asserting his wife's innocence and her willingness to cooperate with the investigation. Ms Gomez has not publicly commented.
Mr Sanchez criticised opposition leaders Alberto Nunez Feijoo of the People's Party and Santiago Abascal of Vox, accusing them of collaborating with those spreading claims against his wife.
Mr Feijoo pushed back by saying Mr Sanchez was trying to blame the opposition for his own judicial issues, adding: "The prime minister has a judicial problem. He is running away from his responsibilities.
“What he should have done is give explanations. If you have nothing to fear, why not? If his wife has nothing to fear, she should go to court and make her innocence clear."
Cabinet members were seen arriving at Mr Sanchez's residence on Wednesday evening, where Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz of Sumar expressed her support.
"Sanchez has my full support. The right-wing offensive cannot get its way," she posted on X.
"We must defend democracy, the progressive bloc and the legitimacy of the coalition government that has improved people's lives so much."
The scandal is particularly sensitive for Mr Sanchez, who took power in 2018 following a corruption scandal that brought down the previous government.