The Spanish Prime Minister’s wife is under investigation for allegedly using her influence to help some businesses receive government support.
The court in the capital Madrid today said it opened an investigation “by secret decree” against Ms. Begona Gomez, wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, on April 16 after receiving a complaint from anti-corruption group Manos Limpias.
Accordingly, Ms. Gomez was accused of taking advantage of influence in exchange for benefits and of corruption in business activities.
The statement was issued a few hours after Spanish media reported that investigators were looking into Ms. Gomez’s relationship with several private companies that received money or public contracts from the government, including Spanish tourism group Globalia, which owns Air Europa airline.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his wife Maria Begona Gomez in Granada city, Spain in October 2023. Image: AFP
This relationship is said to take place when Air Europa is negotiating with the government to obtain a huge bailout due to being heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Ms. Gomez was then running the IE Africa Center, an organization affiliated with the Instituto de Empresa (IE) business school in Madrid. She leaves this position in 2022.
Media said IE Africa Center “signed a sponsorship agreement with Globalia in 2020” and that Ms. Gomez also “met privately with CEO Javier Hidalgo at the company’s office.” At the same time, Globalia was negotiating a multi-million dollar bailout package with the Spanish government.
Last month, Globalia told the media that Mr. Hidalgo and Ms. Gomez met at the company’s office on June 24, 2020 and July 16, 2020.
On July 3, 2020, Prime Minister Sanchez’s government announced the establishment of a fund worth 10 billion euros (10.6 million USD) to support strategic companies most affected by the pandemic. Four months later, the Spanish cabinet approved a 475 million euro ($507 million) bailout for Air Europa, the country’s first major company to receive a bailout.
When asked about information in the media, Prime Minister Sanchez said on April 24 that he trusts the Spanish judicial system. Meanwhile, the opposition People’s Party (PP) asked the Prime Minister to urgently hold a press conference to explain.
“His family members are being investigated by the court, it is important for the Prime Minister to personally explain to the Spanish people,” said Ester Munoz, a senior PP official.
Huyen Le (According to AFP)
Tags: Spanish Prime Ministers wife investigated corruption allegations
