Madrid prosecutors have sought the dismissal of a corruption case against Begoña Gómez, wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, following an admission by the accusing group, Manos Limpias, that their claims may have been based on faulty media reports. Manos Limpias, associated with far-right interests, had accused Gómez of improperly using her influence to attract sponsors for a university program. Reacting to these developments, and facing intense political and public scrutiny, Sánchez considered stepping down from his position.

The investigation initially focused on Gómez’s interactions with a tourism company executive, which coincided timing-wise with a significant government bailout for the executive’s family airline. Despite the accusatory environment, members of Sánchez’s cabinet, including Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz and Deputy Prime Minister María Jesús Montero, have publicly supported him.

Prime Minister Sánchez, leading Spain since 2018 following a corruption scandal that ousted the previous government, has denounced the allegations against his wife as baseless. He termed the legal actions against him and his wife as a “harassment and destruction” campaign by opposing right-wing factions. With the judiciary considering the merits of the prosecution’s dismissal request, the outcome of this situation could significantly impact the political landscape in Spain.