The anti-corruption group that is filing charges against Begona Gómez for influence misappropriation and corporate corruption says it cannot vouch for the veracity of the media reports on which the lawsuit is based.
Spanish prosecutors have demanded the dismissal of a corruption case against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's wife that led him to announce he was considering resigning.
Madrid prosecutors on Thursday appealed Wednesday's decision by a Madrid court to investigate a personal complaint filed by anti-corruption activists against Begona Gómez on suspicion of influence misappropriation and corporate corruption. Then he announced.
The appeal will be heard in another court and could take several months, during which time the judge's investigation into Gomez will be sealed.
Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), the Spanish anti-corruption organization behind the charges, earlier said the case was based on media reports and could not vouch for their veracity.
Miguel Bernado, the group's president, said in a statement on Facebook that the group compiled the report and handed it over to the judge simply out of “civic duty” and that the action was politically motivated. He denied that.
“Unprecedented slander”
Sanchez, who secured re-election last year as leader of Spain's Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) minority coalition government, issued a surprising letter to the nation on Wednesday, saying he would take five days off from official duties and make an announcement. His decision will be whether to stay or quit on Monday.
He blamed the move on “unprecedented vilification and harassment from the right and far right.”
In his letter, Sanchez forcefully denied the charges against his wife. Gomez has not spoken publicly about them.
Barnado, who ran twice in the European elections as a candidate for the far-right National Front in the 1980s, said in a statement Thursday that the case is not political and is “based solely on journalistic reporting.”
According to Barnado, Manos Limpias has decided to ask the court to open an investigation into Gomez's business dealings after the prosecutor's failure to take action on his own. He said it will be up to the preliminary judge to decide whether the report is true.
Juan Carlos Peinado, the judge in charge of the case, said Wednesday that he would file a preliminary case to investigate whether Gomez engaged in misappropriation or corruption in his personal business dealings.
“toxic” climate
Senior PSOE officials distanced themselves from Sánchez, calling the political situation “toxic” and calling Manos Limpias' charges false.
Deputy Prime Minister and Budget Minister María Jesús Montero said she hoped he would announce next week that he would remain in office “because we need him.”
If Sanchez resigns, a new candidate for prime minister could stand for a vote in the lower house, or a snap election could be held in the summer.
Mr Sanchez may also submit himself to a vote of confidence to strengthen his leadership.
