A Madrid court has summoned Begona Gomez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, to appear before a judge on July 5 on charges of corruption and influence peddling that prompted her husband to consider resigning in April.
The request was made as part of a preliminary investigation into whether she had used her position to influence business dealings, the court said on Tuesday.
Sanchez said in late April that he would stay in office, after a five-day break from duty to consider resigning while the court investigated his wife, an investigation he said was baseless and orchestrated by right-wing political opponents.
In a letter distributed in X on Tuesday, Sanchez said he found it "strange" that the court decided to summon his wife just days before this weekend's European Parliament elections and that the right-wing opposition was using everything in its power to break it.
"I want to tell you that my decision to continue leading the government is more determined than ever," added Sanchez.
The opposition has, on various occasions, demanded the resignation of Sanchez, who leads Spain's left-wing minority coalition government.
The issue was raised in a private complaint by “Manos Limpias” (Clean Hands), an anti-corruption activist group led by Miguel Bernad, a lawyer and politician who has been a candidate for a far-right party in the European elections.
"Manos Limpias" alleged that Begona Gomez used her influence as the prime minister's wife to secure sponsors for a university master's course she was running.
Gomez has not made any public comments since the court opened the investigation in late April.
The case has sparked international repercussions. Last month, Spain recalled its ambassador to Buenos Aires after Argentine President Javier Miel called Gomez "corrupt" during a far-right rally in Madrid. Argentina has kept its ambassador in Madrid.
