Madrid court delays testimony of Spain PM’s wife in corruption and influence peddling case News
Ministry of the Presidency. Government of Spain (Attribution or Attribution), via Wikimedia Commons
Madrid court delays testimony of Spain PM’s wife in corruption and influence peddling case

A Madrid court postponed Begoña Gómez’s testimony on Friday in the corruption case against the prime minister’s wife, according to reports in local media.

The court agreed with Gómez’s defense legal team that she hadn’t received a valid notification for another complaint brought against her by Hazte Oír (“Make Yourself Heard”), a far-right advocacy. She is now set to appear in court again on July 19.

The case started after a private activist group named Manos Limpias (“Clean Hands”) filed a complaint against Gómez accusing her of using her position and relationship with the prime minister to influence business by signing recommendation letters to endorse businessmen who apply for public tenders. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez responded by announcing he would take some time to reflect on whether he was to continue his official duties, after a court in Madrid had started preliminary investigation on corruption charges against his wife. At the time, this move was viewed by political commentators and critics as an attempt to steer attention from the corruption accusations against his wife, as well as gather political support.

The prosecutors office in Madrid appealed the decision to start preliminary investigations, thus seeking to drop the case against Begoña Gomez on grounds of lack of evidence. The prime minister then announced he had decided not to resign.

The Party of European Socialists condemned in April what it considered to be a far-right attack in Spain against Begoña Gómez, the Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and their family.