Madrid, Jul 5 (EFE).- Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spain’s Socialist prime minister Pedro Sánchez, appeared Friday in court in Madrid to testify in an investigation into alleged influence peddling.
The case, which was brought by Manos Limpias (‘Clean Hands’) – a self-styled trade union with ties to Spain’s far-right – is investigating whether Gómez used her position as the prime minister’s wife in relation to her dealings with businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés, a professor on a master’s degree course that she directed.
The hardline Catholic association Hazte Oir (‘Make Yourself Heard’) has also asked judicial authorities to investigate whether Gómez abused her position to “establish commercial and professional relationships with various companies and entities” or if she used her influence in “the granting of subsidies and public aid”.
The allegations, which were first made in April, led to Sánchez dramatically suspending his public duties for five days while he considered whether or not to resign due to the “scandalous” and “spurious” claims and the “smear campaign” against his wife, who has denied any wrongdoing.
In the wake of the allegations, prosecutors in Madrid called for the case against Gómez to be dropped, after Manos Limpias admitted that the complaint was based on right-wing and far-right leaning news reports and could not attest to their accuracy or veracity.
Prosecutors argued that there is no evidence of a crime that justifies the opening of criminal proceedings, sources familiar with the case told EFE in late April.
Gómez arrived at the judicial headquarters by car through the garage for security reasons. Dozens of reporters were outside the courthouse.
A strong police presence, with more than a dozen riot vans, was deployed to the area, where a small group of protesters carried the Spanish flag and a banner reading “Pedro Sánchez to prison”. EFE
ms-pgm/ks
