Spain’s Prime Minister Takes a Break Amid Corruption Scandal Involving His Wife

On April 24th, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that he would be taking a break from his official duties to consider whether he should continue leading the government or resign. The decision came after his wife, Begoña Gómez, was investigated by the Madrid court for allegations of corruption and abuse of influence in exchange for benefits in commercial activities.

The investigation into the Sra. Gómez began following a complaint filed by the anti-corruption group Manos Limpias. According to reports from Spanish media outlets, investigators were examining her ties with various private companies that received money or contracts from the government, including Spanish tourism giant Globalia, owner of Air Europa airline. It is alleged that Sra. Gómez met privately with Globalia CEO in 2020 while the company was negotiating a multimillion-dollar rescue package with the government during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a statement released on April 24th, Prime Minister Sánchez denied any wrongdoing on behalf of his wife and accused Manos Limpias of basing its accusations on “inexistent” facts as part of an “attack” campaign against his family directed by conservative media outlets and supported by right-wing opposition groups.

Several members of Sánchez’s cabinet visited his residence on April 24th to express their support for him. Minister Yolanda Díaz spoke out saying: “The right cannot win. We must protect democracy, the progressive block and the legitimacy of our coalition government that has greatly improved people’s lives.”