Armando G. Tejeda

Correspondent

The newspaper La Jornada
Saturday, July 27, 2024, p. 24

Madrid. Judge Juan Carlos Peinado has decided to reject the request of the Spanish Prime Minister, the socialist Pedro Sánchez, to testify in writing in the framework of the judicial process opened against his wife, Begoña Gómez, accused of the alleged crimes of corruption in business and influence peddling following a complaint by the far-right union Manos Limpias.

Following this decision by the magistrate, Sánchez will have to answer live to the questions of the judge, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the lawyers of the private prosecution in his capacity as witness, in a session that will take place at the official residence of the presidency of the government, La Moncloa, in deference to his position.

The judge responded to the request of the Spanish president, who asked to testify in writing based on his public position: “The taking of the statement must be maintained in the same terms and conditions in which it was agreed.

The above does not prevent the witness, if he believes that he can effectively collaborate with the administration of justice, as he states in his writing, by informing the investigating judge of relevant facts of which he has become aware by reason of his position, from highlighting this in said statement so that a new one concerning these facts may be made and this time in writing.

He also warns that It is obvious that the presiding judge of this court has taken into consideration the character in which the witness’s statement must be made, since the rule contained distinguishes between when the facts on which the witness must testify have been known to him by reason of his position and when he has not..

And thus confirms that Sánchez’s statement will have to be made in person, at the La Moncloa Palace, on Tuesday at 11 in the morning.