The Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) has decided not to renew the extraordinary chair for Social Competitive Transformation directed by Begoña Gómez, the wife of President Pedro Sánchez, as reported by Cadena SER. The UCM communicated this decision on Wednesday to two entities that sponsored the chair, Reale Seguros and Fundación La Caixa, without delving into the reasons. The agreement with both companies, signed in October 2020, had a duration of four years and was set to expire the following October, unless renewed. “For budgetary reasons, we decided months ago not to continue beyond 2025,” explained a spokesperson for Reale Seguros to EL PAÍS last April. The decision by the Madrid public university comes in the context of an investigation by Judge Juan Carlos Peinado into Gómez for alleged influence peddling and corruption in business dealings. One of the matters under investigation is whether there was favoritism in the creation of the chair and in the decision to appoint Gómez as co-director.
Gómez first started working at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in September 2014, three months after Sánchez was elected Secretary General of PSOE. She has been co-directing the Master’s Program in Fundraising since its creation in 2014. In 2019, the Complutense established the Chair for Social Competitive Transformation. In Spain, these chairs are initiatives for research or academic work that are funded. By 2024, the Complutense has over 50 such chairs. They all have a director, who must be a professor at the university, but not necessarily a professor with a permanent chair. Typically, around €30,000 is required to launch these chairs, with 10% going to the university. The sponsors of the chair co-directed by Gómez are Fundación La Caixa and Reale Seguros, who signed an agreement in October 2020 for four years (ending in October 2024) with annual contributions of €15,000 each.
When the President’s wife attempted to present the financial and activity report of 2023 in the oversight committee of the Complutense, the vice chancellor leading the committee prevented her from doing so “as a precaution,” citing an ongoing judicial investigation. During the meeting in June, Gómez announced her intention to apply for another four-year renewal of the extraordinary chair, claiming to have sponsorship from Fundación La Caixa and the business association Conpymes. The decision by the UCM to not renew the chair is likely influenced by the ongoing legal scrutiny around Gómez and potential irregularities in the establishment and leadership of the chair.
The decision by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid not to renew Begoña Gómez’s extraordinary chair raises questions about possible conflicts of interest and favoritism in academic appointments. The situation is further complicated by the ongoing judicial investigation into Gómez for alleged influence peddling and corruption in business dealings. The role of sponsors in funding academic initiatives also comes under scrutiny, as they can potentially influence decisions and appointments within the university. The university’s handling of the situation, including the decision to not renew the chair and the communication with sponsors, reflects the complexity of managing academic and financial relationships in higher education institutions.
In conclusion, the situation involving Begoña Gómez’s extraordinary chair at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid highlights the challenges of maintaining transparency and integrity in academic appointments and sponsorships. The decision not to renew the chair, amidst ongoing legal investigations and concerns of favoritism, underscores the importance of upholding ethical standards in higher education institutions. The role of sponsors in funding academic initiatives also raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and the need for clear guidelines on financial partnerships in universities. Moving forward, it will be essential for academic institutions to prioritize accountability and ethical conduct to safeguard the credibility and reputation of their programs and faculty.
