Had been out of the public eye for a long time

Despite allegations of corruption: Sanchez remains in office

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez(Bild: APA/AP/Darko Vojinovic)

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had been out of the public eye for several days. Now it’s clear: He’s staying in office—despite the controversy surrounding allegations against his wife. Sánchez sees this as a “smear campaign” by the opposition.

Spain’s prime minister had taken five days to consider his decision. He will not resign, the 52-year-old announced on Monday. Last Wednesday, Sánchez had unexpectedly announced that he would suspend government business for a few days to consider resigning.

On the short-form messaging service X (formerly Twitter), Sánchez subsequently wrote that he wanted to consider whether it was still “worth it, despite the quagmire in which the right and the far right are trying to engage in politics. “Whether I should continue to lead the government or step down from this high honor.” 

“I have decided to continue”
This comes amid corruption allegations against his wife. Sánchez rejected the allegations, calling them a smear campaign orchestrated by his conservative opponents. “I have decided to continue,” Sánchez said Monday in a televised address. He described the allegations against his wife as part of a “smear campaign” by the opposition.

“I have decided, if possible, to continue leading the government with even greater determination,” Sánchez said in his speech outside the Moncloa Palace in Madrid. The solidarity rallies held by his supporters over the weekend in Madrid and other cities also contributed to his decision, which he made together with his wife. Sánchez called for a fight against the “swamp” in politics.

Influence peddling and corruption in the business world?
The complaint against the prime minister’s wife was filed on Wednesday by the organization “Manos Limpias” (Clean Hands), which is considered to be far-right. It accuses Begoña Gómez (49), who does not hold public office, of influence peddling and corruption in the business sector. “Manos Limpias” later acknowledged that the complaint was based on media reports, which could well be false.

Sánchez has been in office since 2018. He is the leader of the center-left Socialist Party and heads a minority government supported by regional parties. On Saturday, more than 10,000 people demonstrated in Madrid in support of Sánchez remaining in office.