San Francisco Frontiers - Judge to question Spain PM in wife's graft probe

Sanchez has denied any wrongdoing by his wife, Begona Gomez, and dismissed the allegations as part of a right-wing smear campaign against his leftist government.

But the case has stoked acrimony, with the conservative opposition calling on Sanchez to resign.

Gomez is being investigated for alleged influence peddling and corruption following a complaint filed by an anti-graft NGO "Manos Limpias" -- Spanish for "Clean Hands" -- which has links to the far right.

Judge Juan Carlos Peinado, who is heading the preliminary inquiry, went to Sanchez's residence to question him as a witness in the probe.

The only other time a sitting Spanish prime minister has testified in a judicial case was in 2017, when Mariano Rajoy was summoned in a graft case that led to the conviction of several members of his conservative Popular Party (PP).

Sanchez asked to testify in writing as allowed under Spanish law for top government officials, but Peinado rejected the request, arguing he would quiz him as Gomez's spouse.

The premier can now choose to remain silent but "politically this could look bad", said University of Alicante criminal law professor Bernardo del Rosal.

"Not answering the judge, or answering in writing, could create the image that he is arrogant," del Rosal told AFP.

Sanchez presided over a regular cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning and is set to travel to the Mediterranean island of Mallorca for a summer holiday audience with King Felipe VI.

- 'Noise' -

Gomez, who has worked in fundraising for years, invoked her right to remain silent under questioning by the judge earlier this month.

She is alleged to have used her husband's position as leverage within her professional circles, notably with businessman Juan Carlos Barrabes, who was seeking public funding.

In his testimony, Barrabes -- who teaches part of a master's course at Madrid's Complutense University that is run by Gomez -- acknowledged meeting her several times at the premier's official residence.

Sanchez was present at two of those meetings, he said.

Barrabes -- who got two letters of recommendation from Gomez before pitching for a public tender worth several million euros -- said they only talked about matters of innovation, judicial sources said.

Manos Limpias has said its allegations against Gomez were entirely based on media reports, which could turn out to be false.

Spanish prosecutors have failed to get the case dismissed.

Even if a court eventually decides to shelve the case without a trial, "all this noise" will damage the PM's image, del Rosal said.

- 'Remain silent or lie' -

Sanchez's supporters have accused Peinado, whose daughter is a PP city councillor, of political bias.

The judge has taken controversial decisions seen as favouring the right. In 2015 he accepted another Manos Limpias complaint over tweets made by two leftist Madrid city councillors deemed offensive.

Peinado will allow a lawyer from the far-right party Vox to question Sanchez as part of the probe.

Vox is taking part in the investigation as a so-called "popular prosecutor" -- a set-up under Spanish law that allows citizens or organisations to be an accuser in court.

Speaking to reporters outside the PM's residence, Vox spokesman Jorge Buxade said Sanchez was "nervous" because before a judge "he can't do what he does in parliament, which is mock those who ask questions, remain silent or lie".

When the probe was opened in April, Sanchez took five days off to consider his future but ultimately stayed on.

Sanchez, who has been in office since 2018, has struggled to pass legislation since he returned to power last year after an inconclusive election.

M.Hill--SFF