Coming To Court, Spanish PM's Wife Silenced When Asked By The Judge About Corruption Cases

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez/PHOTO via Instagram @sachezcastejon

JAKARTA - Begora Gomez, wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, was present before the judge but refused to answer questions about corruption in a case that made her husband consider resigning.

The trial on Friday, July 19, in Madrid was part of an initial investigation into whether Gomez used her position as prime minister's wife to get sponsorship for the master's degree program at the university she ran.

"Our position is that this process is completely unfounded," his lawyer and former Interior Minister Antonio Camacho told reporters after Gomez left the court.

"My client did not testify not because he was hiding something, but because his lawyer recommended him to do so."

Gomez was allowed in and out of the court building through basement parking, avoiding dozens of reporters outside.

He has not publicly commented on this case. But Sanchez vehemently denied the accusations against him, saying the allegations were baseless and regulated by far-right political enemies.

At the end of April, Sanchez took a five-day break from his duties to consider whether to resign after the court opened an investigation, but finally decided to remain in office.

The case was brought through a unique Spanish legal instrument, "people's accusations", allowing individuals to file criminal charges against third parties. Judges can choose to act or not, and not all charges lead to judicial investigations.

Gomez's complaint was filed by Manos Limpias (Clean Hand), an anti-corruption activist group led by Miguel Bernad, a lawyer and politician running for a candidate for the far-right party in the European elections.

Another far-right party, Vox, also joined the plaintiff and his lawyer, European lawmaker Jorge Buxade, told reporters he would ask the investigative judge to summon Sanchez to testify.