The investigating judge in the case against the wife of the Spanish Prime Minister, Begoña Gómez, has questioned four representatives of entities that financed Gómez’s chair at the Complutense University of Madrid. However, according to sources from the defense, the testimonies did not provide any relevant information for the investigation against Gómez. The witnesses included the director of Wakalua, the CEO of Barrabés, the CEO of Reale Seguros, and the deputy director general of the La Caixa Foundation. The La Caixa Foundation representative stated that he had never met with Pedro Sánchez to discuss the chair at the university or any other topic. He expressed willingness to continue collaborating with the university chair if it were to continue, as the results had been satisfactory.
The La Caixa Foundation representative detailed that his first contacts with Gómez were in 2018, a couple of years before the chair project was created. In 2020, Gómez contacted him to present the project, which could align with the foundation’s social objectives. The proposal was approved by the foundation’s board of directors, who have received reports on its operation as part of a monitoring committee. The representative also emphasized that such collaboration agreements with universities are common. The defense maintains that the testimonies did not yield new conclusions and that the La Cauffer testimony did not provide any new information.
Another witness was Leticia Lauffer, a partner of entrepreneur Carlos Barrabés, who was a professor in the master’s program directed by Gómez. Lauffer denied allegations made during a Senate investigation regarding her relationship with Gómez affecting the rescue of Air Europa. This issue was raised by an ultraright-wing group, but the Madrid Provincial Court saw no basis to investigate. The defense similarly found no new information from Lauffer’s testimony. The same was true for the testimony of Luis Miguel Cipres, CEO of the Barrabés company, who provided detailed information but did not add to the investigation. Reale Seguros also reiterated that their work with the university was part of their regular collaboration with various institutions.
The investigating judge, Peinado, continues his inquiry while awaiting a decision on September 30th from the Madrid National Court concerning Begoña Gómez’s request to close the investigation. On the same day, the court will also address the prosecution’s request to delimit the case. The defense maintains that the testimonies did not provide any new insights and that the investigation has not revealed any irregularities in the contracts awarded to the companies involved. Despite ongoing legal proceedings, there is uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the case and whether it will ultimately lead to any charges against Gómez or the entities involved.
