The PP will not request the appearance of President Pedro Sánchez or his wife, Begoña Gómez, in the Koldo case investigation commission promoted by the party in the Senate. The deadline to register names closes Monday at 2 p.m., but may be extended by political groups later. The PP has not included Sánchez or Gómez on their list of requests yet, but they reserve the option to add them later to maximize pressure on the government. The party intends to demand all documentation related to Begoña Gómez in the parliamentary commission. The list of witnesses will be open and broad, with names to be made public around 1:30 p.m.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo expressed doubts regarding the relevance of summoning Begoña Gómez and admitted discomfort with the idea. However, he hinted at the possibility of calling Sánchez to the Senate if he didn’t provide explanations. The PSOE parliamentary group in the Senate has not yet commented on their request for witnesses. Socialists are observing the PP’s moves before revealing their tactic. The PP plans to call former Health Minister Salvador Illa to testify in the Senate, aiming to question the alleged commission network in mask procurement during the COVID-19 crisis.
Salvador Illa will have to explain in the Senate amidst the campaign for the Catalan elections on May 12. The PP sees his appearance as crucial for gaining votes in the Catalan contest by highlighting his support for amnesty. The scandal surrounding the mask procurement irregularities also influenced ERC’s decision to advance the elections. The Republicans believe Illa will have to provide many explanations, potentially affecting his candidacy. Junts also sees the mask scandal as an opportunity to target the PSC politically, as the party is leading in polls.
The alleged mask procurement scandal has become a political weapon to attack the PSC, with all parties leveraging the controversy for their advantage in the upcoming elections. The PP is strategically using the commission of investigation to target the government and the opposition parties, seeking to gain support through their scrutiny of key figures. The investigation into the COVID-19 procurement process is set to unfold in the coming weeks, coinciding with the electoral campaign, adding more fuel to the political fire. The dynamics between the different parties are shifting as they navigate the implications of the mask scandal on their electoral prospects.
