Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced that he will not resign, despite a corruption probe into his wife, Begoña Gomez. Sanchez made the announcement in a TV address from his official compound in Madrid, vowing to fight against "unfounded" attacks and continue as head of the Spanish government.
The probe into Gomez was launched by the Madrid regional Superior Court of Justice after a complaint from Manos Limpias, an organization with links to the far-right. Sanchez has blamed conservative and far-right forces for the attack on his wife and has accused them of trying to undermine his government.
Sanchez's decision to stay on as prime minister comes after a tumultuous few days, during which he suspended his public duties to "reflect" on whether to continue in the job. The probe into Gomez has sparked widespread support for Sanchez, with thousands of people taking to the streets of Madrid to urge him not to resign.
The prime minister's decision has been welcomed by his Spanish Socialist Party members, who have rallied behind him in support. Salvador Illa, the Socialist Party candidate running for president of the Catalan region, described Sanchez's decision to stay on as "a brave decision to recover the dignity of politics and a commitment to stop those who try to undermine our democracy."
However, the main conservative opposition Popular Party leader, Alberto Nuñez Feijoo, has criticized Sanchez's decision, saying that the crisis did not start with the probe into Gomez and will not end with his decision to stay on. Feijoo has called for Sanchez to take responsibility for the crisis and to resign.
Sanchez became prime minister in 2018 after winning a no-confidence vote against the conservative Mariano Rajoy. He has implemented a progressive agenda, including policies on women's rights and a euthanasia law, which have won votes in urban areas but have also led to a backlash in other parts of Spain.
Despite the challenges facing his government, Sanchez remains a popular figure, with polls predicting that his party will do well in regional elections in Catalonia next month. His government has also been a staunch ally of Ukraine, sending tanks, air defense systems, and other aid to Kyiv.
The probe into Gomez is the latest in a series of challenges facing Sanchez's government, which has been accused of corruption and influence peddling. However, Sanchez has denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to continue fighting for his government's progressive agenda.
In a show of support for Sanchez, thousands of people took to the streets of Madrid on Saturday, chanting "Pedro, stay in office" and "Pedro, we do support you." One demonstrator told CNN en Español, "If he quits, democracy loses. If he resigns, everything we have fought for goes away – not just the social advances we've achieved in this country and the advances for the LGBTI community and for all groups with needs that have problems. No, democracy in general loses."
Sanchez's decision to stay on as prime minister is a significant blow to the conservative and far-right forces that have been trying to undermine his government. It is also a testament to the strength of Spain's democracy and the resilience of its people. Despite the challenges facing his government, Sanchez remains committed to his progressive agenda and to fighting for the rights of all Spaniards.
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