The anti-corruption group behind the complaint against Begona Gomez over alleged influence-peddling and business corruption says it cannot vouch for the veracity of the media reports on which the case is based.
Spanish prosecutors have asked to dismiss the corruption case against Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's wife that prompted him to announce he was considering resigning.
Madrid's public prosecutor's office said Thursday it has appealed Wednesday's decision by a Madrid court to investigate a private complaint filed by anti-corruption activists against Begona Gomez over alleged influence-peddling and business corruption.
The appeal will be heard by a separate court and could take months, and the judge's investigation into Gomez is sealed in the meantime.
The Spanish anti-corruption group behind the complaint, Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), previously said it based its lawsuit on media reports and could not vouch for their veracity.
The group's head, Miguel Bernad, said in a statement on Facebook that the group had only compiled and delivered the reports to the judge out of “civic duty” and denied that the action was politically motivated.
“Unprecedented Defamation”
Sanchez, who last year secured another term for his Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) as leader of a minority coalition government, sent a stunning letter to citizens on Wednesday saying he was taking a five-day break from public duties and announcing his decision to stay or quit Monday.
He blamed the move on what he called “unprecedented defamation and harassment from the right and far right”.
In his letter, Sanchez strongly denied the allegations against his wife. Gomez has not addressed them publicly.
Bernad, who ran in two European elections in the 1980s as a candidate for the far-right National Front, said in a statement Thursday that the lawsuit was not political but “based solely on journalistic reports.”
Manos Limpias decided to ask the court to open an investigation into Gomez's business dealings after the prosecutors did not act on their own initiative and the investigating judge will decide whether the media reports are true, Bernad said.
The judge handling the case, Juan Carlos Peinado, said Wednesday that he would open preliminary proceedings to investigate whether Gomez engaged in influence peddling and corruption in her private business dealings.
“Toxic” climate
Senior PSOE officials have closed ranks around Sanchez, calling the political climate “toxic” and Manos Limpias' complaint false.
Deputy Prime Minister and Budget Minister Maria Jesus Montero said she hoped to announce next week that he would remain in office “because we need him”.
If Sanchez steps down, a new candidate for prime minister could seek a vote in the lower house of parliament or early elections could be held in the summer.
Sanchez could also undergo a confidence vote to strengthen his leadership.