Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, is facing one of the longest and most difficult weeks of his time in office. His wife and a fellow former socialist prime minister are both set to appear before judges who are investigating them for alleged influence peddling and other crimes.
Sánchez came to power in 2018 promising to end the corruption that had plagued the ruling conservative People’s Party (PP). Now, his family, his party, and his government are caught up in a series of scandals.
His wife, Begoña Gómez, has been called to court on Monday afternoon. A judge has charged her with embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in business dealings, and misappropriation of funds, following a two-year investigation. She is accused of using her position as the prime minister’s spouse to secure and manage a job at Madrid’s Complutense University, and of using public resources and personal connections to advance her own private interests.
Judge Juan Carlos Peinado has also charged Gómez’s personal assistant, Cristina Álvarez, and a businessman named Juan Carlos Barrabés in connection with the case. Gómez, Álvarez, and Barrabés have all denied any wrongdoing. They are expected to face a jury trial.
Sánchez has repeatedly dismissed the case against his wife as a baseless and politically motivated smear campaign. The investigation into Gómez was triggered by a complaint from Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), a self-styled trade union with far-right ties that has a history of using the courts to target people it sees as a threat to Spain’s democratic interests.
Sánchez has accused his political and media opponents of going after his family and has openly questioned the impartiality of some members of the judiciary.
Sánchez’s brother, David, is on trial for alleged influence peddling in another case that also began with a complaint from Manos Limpias. He is accused of being given a specially created job as the coordinator of music conservatories by the socialist-led council of the southwestern city of Badajoz in July 2017. At that time, his brother was the national leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) but not yet prime minister. David Sánchez denies the charges and faces a three-year prison sentence if found guilty.
Two of the prime minister’s former right-hand men have been accused of taking kickbacks on public contracts. Meanwhile, a judge is also investigating whether members of the PSOE ran a campaign to destabilize judicial proceedings against the socialist party and the government.
But perhaps the biggest political shock came last month. Former socialist prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero – a key figure for the Spanish left – was placed under investigation for alleged influence peddling and other offenses. A judge is looking into the state bailout of an airline during the Covid pandemic.
Zapatero, who was prime minister from 2004 to 2011, has been ordered to testify before Spain’s highest criminal court, the Audiencia Nacional, on Wednesday and Thursday this week. The investigation is part of an inquiry into the €53 million (£46 million) state rescue of the Spanish airline Plus Ultra in March 2021. Prosecutors are examining whether the company made “inadequate use” of the public funds approved for the bailout. Anti-corruption police are also investigating whether the airline used the rescue money to launder funds from Venezuela through France, Switzerland, and Spain.The case took another turn last week when the Audiencia Nacional announced that Zapatero was being investigated for possible tax fraud and smuggling. This came after police found jewelry worth over €1.3 million (£1.1 million) in his office safe during a search linked to the Plus Ultra inquiry. The former prime minister has denied any wrongdoing.
The PP renewed its call for an early general election, claiming this week would be a “judicial ordeal” for the government and a “national embarrassment” for Spain. “We’re not talking about one bad apple,” the party added. “We’re talking about a tree that’s rotten from the roots up.”
But the prime minister has dismissed these demands and said he will keep fighting and run in next year’s scheduled general election. A poll on Monday by the online newspaper elDiario.es found that 64% of socialist voters think Sánchez should stay in office until the next election, while 22.8% want him to call an early vote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the situation involving Spains Prime Minister his wife and a former Prime Minister being called before judges
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What is happening with Spains Prime Minister this week
He is under significant political pressure Two people close to himhis wife and a former Prime Minister from his own partyhave been ordered to appear in court as part of separate legal investigations
2 Why is the Prime Ministers wife being called to see a judge
A judge is investigating her for alleged business corruption and influence peddling This is based on a complaint filed by a farright group She has not been charged with a crime she is being questioned as part of the investigation
3 Who is the former Prime Minister mentioned
It is Mariano Rajoy who served as Prime Minister of Spain from 2011 to 2018 He is from the opposing conservative Popular Party
4 Why is a former Prime Minister being called to court
He is being called as a witness in a major corruption trial linked to his own party The case involves alleged illegal financing and bribes paid to PP officials in exchange for contracts
5 Does this mean the current Prime Minister is in trouble
Not directly The investigations involve his wife and a political rival not him personally However it creates a very difficult political environment for him as the opposition is using these cases to attack his government
AdvancedLevel Questions
6 How are these two court cases connected to the Prime Ministers political survival
They are not legally connected but politically they are The opposition is using the case against his wife to question his integrity and judgment The Rajoy case reminds voters of the corruption scandals that have plagued Spanish politics which the current Prime Minister campaigned against
7 What is the specific accusation against the Prime Ministers wife Begoña Gómez
She is accused of using her husbands position to secure private funding and contracts for a university masters degree program she directed The judge is looking into whether her personal connections gave her an unfair advantage
8 What is the Grtel case and how does it involve Mariano Rajoy
The Grtel case is a massive corruption scandal involving the Popular Party Rajoy is being called as a witness because as party leader at
