The current political landscape in Spain experienced another jolt this Monday: the wife of the Prime Minister, Begoña Gómez, who is on holiday in Lanzarote these days, has received a new judicial indictment; an announcement that was made while Pedro Sánchez was meeting with the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo. The cordial meeting took place at the insular Cabildo, focusing on immigration and the Canary agenda. Sánchez left the meeting without making any statements, which was already expected.
Almost simultaneously, it was revealed that the Court of Instruction number 41 in Madrid had decided to widen the investigation against Begoña Gómez, wife of the head of the Executive. In addition to the charges of influence peddling, business corruption, and intrusiveness she was already facing, a new accusation of misappropriation of public funds linked to the hiring of an advisor in Moncloa has now been added.
Judge Peinado has summoned Gómez to testify on 11 September, while her collaborator must appear one day earlier.
This decision represents another judicial blow for the presidential entourage in the middle of August and keeps alive a case that has marked political debate throughout the year.
The news of the new indictment against Pedro Sánchez’s wife came as the president concluded his visit to the Cabildo headquarters in Lanzarote, where – as mentioned – he held a work meeting with the Canary president, Fernando Clavijo.
The meeting, which took place around 17:00, focused on the management of unaccompanied migrant minors and the development of the so-called Canary Agenda, covering significant issues such as regional financing and the impact of European cuts on the primary sector.
The Prime Minister was welcomed at the doors of the insular institution by the head of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, along with the Government delegate in the Canary Islands, Anselmo Pestana, and other local authorities, such as insular delegate Pedro Viera.
After the meeting, the Minister for Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, appeared alongside Clavijo to emphasise the “harmony” between the central and regional executives. Both leaders stressed the need to find urgent solutions to relieve the migratory pressure on the islands and ensure that the commitments outlined in the Canary Agenda are reflected in the upcoming
On this day, the Secretary of Organisation of Coalición Canaria, David Toledo, stated that it was a meeting of “courtesy” and that his party remains very concerned about the extended budget maintained by the state government. CC advocates for the signing of a legislative decree that addresses the needs of the Canary Islands, including the use of reserves to create housing, battery provisions against energy poverty, POSEI, and many other outstanding matters, he noted.
Fernando Clavijo, for his part, insisted that these are vital issues for the islands and for the people of the Canary Islands, just as the updating of standard transport costs, the extension of the road agreement, and the necessary funding to complement non-contributory benefits in the Canary Islands are, the majority of whose beneficiaries are women.
Nonetheless, the day’s main focus of information had already been covered by the new indictment of Begoña Gómez.
It is worth noting that Pedro Sánchez and his family have been on holiday in Lanzarote since early August, a routine they have maintained regularly since 2020.
