Begona Gomez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, faced a judge on Friday in Madrid.
But chose not to answer questions regarding accusations of corruption and influence peddling.
This case has put immense pressure on Sanchez, who considered resigning in April due to the allegations.
Gomez is under preliminary investigation for allegedly using her position as the prime minister’s wife to secure sponsors for a master’s degree course.
Her lawyer, Antonio Camacho, a former Interior Minister, defended her silence in court, stating, “Our position is … that this process is groundless.”
He emphasized that Gomez did not testify because he advised her against it, not because she had anything to hide.
To avoid the media frenzy, Gomez was allowed to enter and leave the courthouse through the underground parking, bypassing dozens of reporters.
While she has remained silent on the issue, her husband, Sanchez, has strongly denied the accusations, calling them baseless and politically motivated by right-wing adversaries.
The situation became so overwhelming that in late April, Sanchez took a five-day break from his duties to contemplate his resignation.
However, he ultimately decided to stay on as prime minister.
The case against Gomez was initiated by Manos Limpias (Clean Hands),.
An anti-corruption activist group led by Miguel Bernad, a lawyer and politician associated with a far-right party.
Cry for justice
Vox, another far-right party, joined the plaintiff, with their lawyer, European lawmaker Jorge Buxade, intending to call Sanchez to testify.
The Spanish legal system allows private individuals to bring criminal complaints against third parties through a unique instrument called the “people’s accusation.”
Judges have the discretion to decide whether to pursue these accusations, and not all lead to judicial investigations.
The mechanism was used to file the complaint against Gomez.
Bringing intense scrutiny to her actions since Sanchez assumed office in 2018.
The court will also investigate contracts related to European Union funds separately, involving the European Prosecutor.
This multi-faceted investigation aims to thoroughly evaluate Gomez’s conduct and the potential misuse of her influence.
As the investigation progresses, the political landscape in Spain remains tense. .
