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Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been called to testify in a criminal investigation into corruption allegations against his wife, a move that dramatically escalates the case.
The judge's ruling, announced on Monday, means Sánchez will be questioned as a witness at his official residence on July 30 in an investigation he has described as part of a right-wing smear campaign against him.
The investigation into Sánchez's wife, Begoña Gómez, has sparked anger in Spanish politics that worsened last year when Sanchez returned to power as head of a fragile coalition after an inconclusive general election. The Prime Minister took five days off to consider his future when he was first launched in April.
The case centers on allegations of influence peddling and corruption against Gómez over her business dealings. Sánchez has denied any wrongdoing by his wife and no charges have been filed.
Judge Juan Carlos Peinado, of the High Court of Justice in Madrid, said: "It is considered appropriate, useful and appropriate to obtain a statement from the husband of the person being investigated" given the need to investigate the "possible" relationship of Gómez with the authorities.
Gómez was called to testify in court last Friday, but exercised her right to refuse to answer questions. She has not publicly commented on this case.
Borja Semper, spokesman for the conservative People's Party, the main opposition, said the problem with the prime minister was "ethical" and not just judicial.
The last time a sitting Spanish prime minister was called to testify in a court case was in 2017, when the PP's Mariano Rajoy was called in a corruption case that led to convictions for several members of his party.
Sánchez wrote a letter to the nation when a preliminary court case opened, saying he was the target of a right-wing "harassment and destruction" operation involving his political enemies and the media.
When Gómez came under official investigation in June, he wrote another letter saying, "I will not break."
In a radio interview this month, Sánchez said he wanted to "think that Peinado is not biased in this case."
He also said that his wife had made several complaints, which have not yet been answered, asking the judge to clarify the reasons why she was called to testify. / FinancialTimes
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