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Spain's prime minister faces court inquiry over airline bailout linked to wife
A Spanish court has ordered an investigation into Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez over claims of a potential conflict of interest tied to his government's €475 million bailout of Air Europa during the COVID-19 pandemic. The inquiry will examine whether Sánchez should have recused himself from a 2020 Cabinet meeting that approved the financial rescue package.
The High Court of Madrid directed the Civil Service Ministry's Office for Conflicts of Interest to review the case, following a complaint by the conservative Popular Party (PP). The complaint alleges that Globalia, Air Europa’s parent company, was financially supporting projects tied to Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, at the time of the bailout.
The court criticized the Office for Conflicts of Interest for previously dismissing the complaint without conducting a formal investigation, relying instead on a report from Sánchez’s general secretariat that stated Gómez had no professional links to Globalia. The judges emphasized that the office has a legal duty to probe the matter, even if the allegations ultimately prove unfounded.
The investigation adds to a series of legal and political challenges facing Sánchez. His wife, Begoña Gómez, has been under judicial scrutiny since April over claims she may have leveraged her husband’s position for personal gain. Although parts of the inquiry into her ties to Globalia have been dropped for lack of evidence, questions surrounding her connections persist.
In response to the controversy, Sánchez has firmly denied any wrongdoing and accused right-wing opponents of mounting a politically motivated smear campaign against his government.
This latest inquiry follows a separate Supreme Court ruling indicating that Spain's top prosecutor, a Sánchez appointee, may have breached judicial secrecy in another high-profile case, further intensifying pressure on his administration.
The court’s ruling, dated June 6, underscores the need for transparency in cases involving public funds and potential conflicts of interest. While no conclusions have yet been drawn, legal experts note that the investigation could deepen political tensions in Spain as Sánchez navigates these allegations.
