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Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez Will Not Resign After Allegations Against Wife

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez Will Not Resign After Allegations Against Wife - GlobalCurrent24.com

International News Regarding Spain’s Prime Minister – Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez Will Not Resign After Allegations Against Wife

After five days of uncertainty over his future, Pedro Sánchez has announced that he will remain as Spain’s prime minister.

Mr Sánchez postponed public activities this week after a judge started an initial investigation into his wife’s corruption allegations.

He accused the right-wing media of conducting a harassment campaign.

“Expressions of solidarity from all sections of society” prompted his decision to stay in office, he said.

Over the weekend, a series of rallies took place around Spain, calling for the prime minister to remain in office. More than 10,000 people gathered in front of the Socialist Party’s (PSOE) headquarters in Madrid to demonstrate their support for the prime minister.

“Thanks to this mobilisation, I have decided to continue leading the presidency,” Mr Sánchez added, pledging to do so “with more strength if possible”.

“This isn’t about the destiny of one leader – it’s about deciding what kind of society we want to be. Our country needs this self-reflection. We have let the mud soil our public life for too long,” he went on to say.

Begoña Gómez, wife of Mr Sánchez, was accused by the organization Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), directed by Miguel Bernad, a far-right figure.

On Thursday, Madrid’s public prosecutor urged for the investigation to be suspended due to a lack of evidence. Manos Limpias also admitted that the claims might be inaccurate because they were based on online newspaper pieces, one of which has already been shown to be fraudulent.

Mr Sánchez recognized in his address that his announcement of his plan to take time off to ponder was “disconcerting,” but said that “there are times when the only way to move forward is to stop, reflect, and decide which way we want to go.” Many had expected Mr Sánchez to quit or schedule a confidence vote.

The leader’s loyalists celebrated Monday’s statement.

“Thank you for defending democracy, championing decency, and fighting for a supportive and courageous Spain,” PSOE spokesperson Esther Peña Camarero said on X.

However, members of the opposition were less enthusiastic. The opposition Popular Party (PP) leader in Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, accused Mr Sánchez of being “shameless”.

She claimed the prime minister had taken five days to determine “how to attack judges, political rivals, and the free press” and added: “He should give fewer speeches without journalists and more press conferences where he can be asked questions.”

Last week, Mr. Núñez Feijóo accused the prime minister of constructing “a political survival operation” by turning the charges against his wife and his reaction into a spectacle ahead of important elections.

Indeed, Mr Sánchez’s decision to forgo public responsibilities comes at a critical moment for his Socialist Party, with European Parliament elections in June and Catalonia regional elections in north-eastern Spain coming up next month.

Pedro Sánchez heads an uneasy coalition that includes two Catalan separatist parties, who were convinced to support the government in exchange for an amnesty that covered an unlawful Catalan secession vote in 2017.