Public prosecutors in Madrid have called for a preliminary inquiry to be dismissed into Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s wife, hours after he said he was suspending his duties to assess whether he would remain in office.
In an appeal to the Madrid court, prosecutors said there was no evidence in the complaint against Begoña Gómez.
The court began the case into claims by a right-wing anti-corruption group.
But the group has since acknowledged the allegations could be false.
The Spanish Prime Minister announced he was cancelling his agenda on Wednesday evening, in a dramatic online statement that said he needed “stop and reflect”. He complained of “unprecedented slander and harassment from the right and far right”.
He said his wife would work with the judiciary to make clear there was no substance to the claims and that he would make a decision on his political future on Monday.
The Madrid prosecutor’s opposition to the case which has been brought against Ms Gómez is a boost for the prime minister as he considers his future.
But with the justice system often moving slowly, it could take some time for the case against Ms Gómez to be shelved, if that is the ultimate decision.
The complaint against Begoña Gómez was raised by anti-corruption campaigners Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), led by a man linked to the far right called Miguel Bernad.
Given the track record of Clean Hands, which has presented a litany of unsuccessful lawsuits against politicians in the past, the public prosecutors’ decision is not necessarily surprising.
Credit: bbc.com
