The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has asked the judge who admitted the complaint filed by Manos Limpias against Begoña Gómez, the wife of the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, if the case involves contracts signed with European funds. The EPPO is currently analyzing documentation from the procedure to determine if it is competent to investigate. The EPPO has requested information from the Madrid Court on the facts being investigated and if the UTE Innova Next SLU-Escuela de Negocios The Valley, which includes a company owned by businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés, is implicated in the proceedings. The EPPO states that it may exercise its jurisdiction to investigate these contracts if it deems it necessary and has asked the court to provide the relevant documentation.
In response to the EPPO’s request, the judge Juan Carlos Peinado has informed the European Public Prosecutor’s Office that the investigation involves the awarding of various contracts by Red.es to the UTE composed of entities such as Innova Next, a company owned by the Barrabés Group, SLU Escuela de Negocios, and The Valley. The judge is investigating alleged crimes of influence peddling and corruption in business dealings. Despite facilitating the required documents to the EPPO, the judge has not made a decision on the competence of the investigation regarding contracts with European funds, as it is up to the EPPO to determine this.
The EPPO has requested the complete files from Red.es regarding the three contracts in question, which relate to training services for employment in the digital economy. Two of the contracts are aimed at young people and one is for unemployed individuals. The EPPO made this request after becoming aware of the reported facts through media publications. The EPPO has also announced that it will contact the Unit for the Administration of the European Social Fund (UAFSE) to determine if the contracts were financed with European funds and if they were certified.
The investigating magistrate initiated proceedings on April 16 for crimes of influence peddling and corruption in business dealings after receiving a complaint from Manos Limpias. The complaint was based on newspaper headlines detailing various professional activities carried out by the wife of President Sánchez. The EPPO’s request for information from the Madrid Court and the subsequent analysis of documentation regarding the contracts with European funds indicates a potential escalation of the investigation into Begoña Gómez’s activities. The EPPO’s involvement raises questions about the potential misuse of European funds and the implications for the President of the Spanish Government.
The EPPO’s interest in the contracts involving Begoña Gómez and potential European funds highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in public procurement processes. The investigation into influence peddling and corruption in business dealings underscores the need for thorough scrutiny of government contracts and the prevention of fraudulent activities. The EPPO’s actions may have broader implications for governance and accountability in Spain and the European Union as a whole. The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for the reputation of the Spanish Government and the integrity of European funding mechanisms.
