Plaintiff admits corruption allegations against Spanish PM's wife may be based on 'fake' news reports

Spanish politics were shaken up on Wednesday when, in a letter published in X, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced he was considering his future as the leader of the government following a corruption investigation against his wife, Begoña Gómez.

The shocking announcement came hours after a Madrid judge launched a preliminary investigation into his wife, Begoña Gómez, for allegedly using her government connections to influence business deals.

The accusations were made by the anti-corruption group Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), whose main activity is to pursue legal cases, many of them linked to right-wing causes.

On Thursday, the leader of Manos Limpias, Spanish lawyer and former politician Miguel Bernad, admitted that the lawsuit they filed in a Madrid court was based "solely" on information from news reports. 

"If [the allegations] are not true, those who published them will have to accept the falsehood, but if they are true, we understand that the legal process will have to continue," he said in a statement. 

The group has participated in several high-profile court cases in recent years, acting as popular prosecutors, a feature of Spanish law that allows individuals and entities to participate in criminal cases without being directly involved.

Shortly after Manos Limpias' statement, the public prosecutor's office appealed the decision to investigate Gómez and requested that the case be dropped. 

Socialists unite behind PM, opposition accuses him of 'playing the victim'

Following Sánchez's letter on Wednesday, there was an immediate outpouring of support from his Socialist Party colleagues and government leaders.

"All Catalan socialists are with you. All the strength, prime minister," said the Socialist leader in Catalonia, Salvador Illa, on X. 

Although Illa has not publicly expressed his opinion on what Sánchez should decide, he said he respected his "pause" and called for "collective reflection", rejecting the "muddying of politics" practiced by right-wing parties. 

The leader of the Catalan Socialists called on his fellow politicians to not succumb to a way of politics "that weaponizes institutions, that aims to destroy opponents, that dehumanizes people."

In the same line, presidency minister Félix Bolaños, called for "respect" for Sánchez's process of "personal reflection," saying he had been subjected to a "cruel and limitless persecution" with "lies aimed at intimidating and dehumanizing him." 

But he received support not only from his party, but also from his coalition partners. The leader of Sumar, Yolanda Díaz, in a message to X, expressed "full support" for Sánchez's decision, adding that "the right-wing offensive cannot prevail.

But the shocking announcement drew sharp criticism from the opposition. The leader of the conservative People's Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, accused Sánchez of "playing the victim" and "further polarizing" Spain. He also said the move had electoral purposes ahead of the Catalan elections on May 12 and the European elections in June. 

Alejandro Fernández, leader of the People's Party in Catalonia, criticized Sánchez for turning the election campaign into a "reality show." 

Sánchez takes focus off Catalan election campaign

The potential resignation of Sánchez has shifted the media focus away from the campaign for the May 12 elections in Catalonia, which begin tomorrow, and the independence parties have been quick to react.

Catalan president Pere Aragonès said it would make no sense for Sánchez to undergo a vote of confidence, as the issue "does not stem from a crisis with his coalition partners." 

"In the face of threats from the far right, we must always stand our ground," he added. 

Meanwhile, former Catalan president and pro-independence Junts candidate in the May 12 vote, Carles Puigdemont, urged Sánchez to call a vote of confidence.

In a post on X, Puigdemont asked Sánchez to "clarify all the doubts that have arisen" following the announcement, and suggested that the decision could be a "tactical move."

What happens if Sánchez resigns? 

Sánchez will announce on Monday whether he will resign or continue. Regardless of the decision, it would not mean an immediate call for general election. 

The Constitution says that Congress cannot be dissolved until a year has passed since the last dissolution, which took place on May 28 last year.

If Sánchez decides to wait until the end of May and call an election then, it would take place in July.

However, if he steps down now, his government would remain in office and a new prime minister would be elected through the congressional process. 

But if no prime minister is elected, the process for a general election would begin.