A Madrid court postponed Begoña Gómez’s testimony on Friday in the ongoing corruption case involving the prime minister’s wife, as reported in local media. The delay was due to an agreement with Gómez’s defense team that she hadn’t received valid notification for another complaint lodged against her by the far-right advocacy group, Hazte Oír. Gómez is now scheduled to appear in court on July 19.
This case began when the activist group Manos Limpias (“Clean Hands”) filed a complaint accusing Gómez of leveraging her position to influence business dealings by signing recommendation letters for businessmen seeking public tenders. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has publicly addressed the investigation, expressing his intention to reflect on his political future which some view as an attempt to divert attention from his wife’s accusations and garner political support.
The prosecutors’ office in Madrid has meanwhile attempted to dismiss the case, citing insufficient evidence. The Prime Minister subsequently decided against resigning, confirming this decision in a tweet. The Party of European Socialists has condemned what it sees as a politically motivated attack against the Prime Minister and his family, attributing the accusations to far-right factions within Spain.
For further details, visit the original report by JURIST.