Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has requested that Judge Juan Carlos Peinado suspend her scheduled appearance on Monday, November 18th, at the Plaza de Castilla court in Madrid. She is set to be notified of a new lawsuit filed against her, which includes charges of embezzlement and professional intrusion in addition to the existing charges of influence peddling and corruption in business dealings. Gómez cited an official visit to Brazil for the G-20 summit as the reason for her inability to attend the court date, and argued that there is no legal requirement for the notification of the lawsuit to be done in person as the judge intends.
Gómez’s defense, led by former socialist minister Antonio Camacho, has informed the judge of the impossibility for the President’s wife to attend the court on November 18th as previously scheduled. The new lawsuit was initiated by the ultra-Catholic group Hazte Oír, alleging that Gómez misappropriated software from the Complutense University of Madrid. The defense presented an invitation from the Brazilian Embassy, received before the court date was set, as well as a personal letter from the first lady of Brazil inviting Gómez to the G-20 summit. The defense emphasized Gómez’s attendance was on official invitation from the President of Brazil.
In response to the invitation, Gómez confirmed her attendance and expressed anticipation for the activities planned at the summit. She highlighted the importance of addressing challenges and fostering dialogue and collaboration between nations. The defense argued that Gómez is already aware of the Hazte Oír lawsuit and does not need to be personally notified. They insisted that there is no legal requirement for personal notification, as Gómez has previously been informed of the lawsuit and summoned to court at her residence, demonstrating that she is aware of the proceedings.
The defense further urged the judge not to compel Gómez to attend court to collect the lawsuit and then appear on a separate date for her testimony. They contended that Gómez is fully informed of the allegations and does not need to be personally notified, citing previous interactions where she was informed of the lawsuit and summoned to court at her home address. The defense stressed that Gómez’s presence at the G-20 summit is part of official duties as the wife of the Prime Minister, highlighting the diplomatic significance of her attendance.
In light of these arguments, Begoña Gómez seeks to have her court appearance suspended on November 18th due to her official visit to Brazil for the G-20 summit. The defense maintains that Gómez is aware of the new lawsuit against her and does not require personal notification, advocating for her to be permitted to address the allegations at a later date in alignment with her official duties as the spouse of the Spanish Prime Minister.
