A Madrid prosecutor announced on Wednesday that it had opened a preliminary investigation into the family of former Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez on suspicion of bribery and influence peddling.
The judge stated in a quick statement that it had “opened an investigation into the alleged crime of control hawking and corruption in company against Begona Gomez.”
It said the investigation, which is” subjected to a privacy order” was opened on April 16 following a complaint filed by Manos Limpias ( Clean Arms ), an anti- problem force party whose president is linked to the far- straight.
The court’s statement was made many hours after an article on the online information site El Confidencial claimed that Gomez’s ties to numerous personal companies that ended up receiving funding or government contracts were being investigated.
It claimed that the investigation was connected to her alleged ties to the owner of Air Europa, Hispanic travel company Globalia.
The airline is said to have had the ties when it was in discussions with the authorities to get a sizable loan after it was severely hampered by the Covid- 19 crisis’s impact on air traffic.
At the time, Gomez was running IE Africa Center, a foundation linked to Madrid’s Instituto de Empresa ( IE ) business school, a position she left in 2022.
According to El Confidencial, IE Africa Center and Globalia” signed a sponsor agreement in 2020″ and Gomez “held a personal meeting with its CEO Javier Hidalgo at the bank’s offices.” Globalia was negotiating with the state a multi-million euros loan at the same time.
The PM needs to explain, the PM says.
Hidalgo and Gomez had meetings with Globalia on June 24 and July 16 next fortnight, Globalia reported to El Confidencial.
On July 3, Sanchez’s administration made the announcement to set up a 10 billion euros portfolio to rescue the most important companies that have been hardest hit by the crisis.
The case approved a 475 million euros lifeline for Air Europa, the first major Hispanic company to use the funds, precisely four months later.
Manos Limpias, which filed the complaint, is headed by Miguel Bernad, a prosecutor who was sentenced to four years in 2021 for his part in a program to extract big companies.
However, he was cleared next month by the Supreme Court for lack of proof.
Sanchez responded to a question about the El Confidencial case in legislature on Wednesday, saying that he believed in the justice system.
” On a day like now, after the information I’ve heard, despite all, I still believe in Spain’s fairness system”, he said.
But the right- wing opposition Popular Party ( PP ) demanded explanations.
Ester Munoz, a top PP official, stated that it is necessary for the prime minister to hold a press event to explain.
The jury is looking into this home; the prime minister should explain this to the Spanish people because it is significant enough.
