Madrid’s public prosecutors have made a striking decision, swiftly moving to dismiss a preliminary inquiry into the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. This decisive action follows closely on the heels of the Prime Minister’s announcement that he will step back from his duties to reflect on his political future.
Prosecutors have submitted an appeal to the Madrid court, arguing that the complaint against Begoña Gómez is without merit, citing a dearth of evidence. The court had commenced the investigation in response to claims made by a right-wing anti-corruption group, which have now been deemed unsubstantiated.
The group that initially leveled the accusations has since backtracked, acknowledging that the claims may be baseless and without foundation.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made a bold move on Wednesday evening, scrapping his schedule and issuing a powerful online statement in which he denounced the “toxic campaign of slander and harassment” waged against him by the right and far-right, and declared his need to “stop and reflect” in order to navigate this challenging moment.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stood resolute, declaring that his wife would partner with the judiciary to comprehensively disprove the allegations and restore her good name. He also promised to make a critical decision on his political future by Monday, bringing much-needed clarity to the current political landscape.
The Madrid prosecutor’s opposition to the case which has been brought against Ms Gómez is a boost for the prime minister as he considers his future.
But with the justice system often moving slowly, it could take some time for the case against Ms Gómez to be shelved, if that is the ultimate decision.
The complaint against Begoña Gómez was raised by anti-corruption campaigners Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), led by a man linked to the far right called Miguel Bernad.
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Given the track record of Clean Hands, which has presented a litany of unsuccessful lawsuits against politicians in the past, the public prosecutors’ decision is not necessarily surprising.
Despite the Madrid court’s silence, a complaint appeared online, exposing a list of allegations culled from trusted news websites like El Confidencial and Voz Populi, shedding light on the mysterious case.
In a statement on Thursday, Mr. Bernad of Manos Limpias made a stunning admission, conceding that their allegations could be false, and placing the onus on those who disseminated the information to take responsibility.
The judiciary in Spain, already perceived as one of the least independent in the EU according to a 2023 barometer, will face further questions about its impartiality and independence in the wake of this episode.
Alleged smear campaigns against Podemos and Catalan independence leaders have led some left-wing politicians to accuse the judiciary of being weaponized by the political right, further eroding trust in the justice system.
In a statement, Mr. Sánchez accused his opponents of engaging in a “strategy of harassment” over several months, aimed at damaging him politically and personally, including targeting his wife Begoña, which he saw as a desperate attempt to discredit him.