Will there be a new election?

Prime Minister’s office suspended – Spain in turmoil

Head of government Pedro Sánchez (center, at the G20 summit in Bali 2022) is suspending his office because his wife (2nd from left) is being investigated for corruption.

(Bild: AFP/APA/AJENG DINAR ULFIANA)

Spain is in political turmoil and could be heading for new elections. This has been triggered by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's announcement that he would be suspending his official duties for a few days. A court had previously announced the opening of preliminary investigations into his wife Begoña Gomez. The aim is to examine whether she is guilty of corruption in private transactions.

The socialist Sánchez, who leads a minority government supported by regional parties, intends to announce on Monday whether he will remain in office. Parliament could elect a new head of government if he resigns, explained political scientist Lluis Orriols from the Carlos III University in Madrid. However, in view of the fragmented majority, new elections are more likely.

As reported, Sánchez wrote a letter on Wednesday evening saying that he had to "stop and think". This is because he "urgently needs an answer" to the question of whether it is worth continuing the government or renouncing it.

Head of government Pedro Sánchez (center, at the G20 summit in Bali 2022) is suspending his office because his wife (2nd from left) is under investigation for corruption.

(Bild: AFP/APA/AJENG DINAR ULFIANA)

Attacks the opposition
Sánchez spoke of the serious attacks from the right-wing camp that he and his wife are facing. These required a level-headed response. His wife would cooperate with the investigators and show that she was innocent. In the letter, Sánchez also attacked opposition leader Alberto Nuñez Feijóo from the People's Party (PP) and Santiago Abascal from the far-right Vox party. The head of government declared that they had "collaborated" with those who spread the accusations against his wife.

The "letter to the citizens" was published on the X platform:

Corruption hunters denounced Gomez
The court's investigation was based on a complaint from the group Manos Limpias - "clean hands". The group accuses Sánchez's wife of having accepted favors from the airline Air Europa and its Spanish holding Globalia during her time as head of an African research center at Madrid's IE Business School until 2022: This is according to a document published by the radio station Cadena Ser on its website.

IE declared in a statement that it had never received financial support from Globalia or its subsidiaries. Globalia did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on Wednesday. Manos Limpias is dedicated to the fight against corruption. Its leadership has links to the right-wing camp.

Public prosecutor's office requested that the investigation be closed
There was good news for Sánchez's wife on Thursday. The public prosecutor's office in Madrid requested that the preliminary investigation against her be dropped, as reported by Spanish media. At the same time, the public prosecutor's office filed an appeal on Thursday against the admission of the corruption charges against Sánchez's wife, it was reported. A spokesperson for the judiciary confirmed this information. The view of the public prosecutor's office carries weight. However, only the judge decides whether to open a formal investigation.

Sánchez is politically risk-averse. Last year, he called new elections after his Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) performed poorly in the regional elections. Although his PSOE made surprising gains in the early elections in July, it was overtaken by the conservative People's Party. However, with the support of left-wing and regional parties, Sánchez was still able to hold on to office. To do so, he accepted an amnesty for Catalan separatists, which is controversial in Spain.

Sanchez and his wife Begoña Gomez

(Bild: AFP/APA/JAVIER SORIANO)

Experts do not believe in withdrawal
Most analysts do not believe that the shrewd tactician will back down. "Throwing in the towel doesn't suit Sánchez," was the unanimous opinion of a panel discussion on state television station RTVE. He would hardly give up even for the consolation prize of a high post in Brussels. RTVE star presenter Silvia Intxaurrondo pointed out that Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa had resigned the previous year following reports of judicial investigations, which later turned out to be groundless.

However, almost all analysts agree that Sánchez will not be able to simply go back to business as usual after his sensational "letter to the public" on Monday. The newspaper "La Vanguardia", among others, wrote that it is most likely that he will ask parliament for a vote of confidence. "Even the harshest critics concede his great strategic ability to pull rabbits out of his hat and keep coming back to life when he was already dead and buried."

Is Sanchez leaving as head of government? Observers consider this unlikely.

(Bild: AP ( via APA) Austria Presse Agentur/AP)

It cannot be ruled out that Sánchez could run for re-election. However, according to the constitution, he can only announce these at the end of May, one year after his last announcement of new elections. The elections would then take place again at the end of July, in the middle of the summer.