His wife under investigation for corruption, The Guardian analysis: Why is the prime minister of Spain considering resigning?

What prompted the announcement?

Although Spanish politics has become increasingly polarised, personal and bitter over the past few years, Sanchez said he had felt obliged to consider his position after what he called a <x0).

The announcement came hours after a Madrid court said it had opened an investigation into Sanchez's wife, Begona Gomez, for corruption. The investigation followed a complaint by the Manos Limias (Passing Hands) pressure group.

Who is Manos Limpias?

The group, which describes itself as an independent national union committed to “brings about the independence of the judiciary and the real and real democratisation of our institutions”, is headed by a lawyer named Miguel Bernad, who is known to have had ties to the past at the far right of Spain. In 2021, Bernad was sentenced to four years in prison for a scheme to defraud large firms but was released by the Supreme Court last month because of lack of evidence.

Manos Limpias has a long history of using courts to follow what he thinks are acting contrary to what he considers to be Spain's democratic interests. According to Spanish law, individuals and groups can use a mechanism known as acusación populisar (people's charge) to file criminal complaints before a judge who then examines them and decides whether they will continue.

What are the claims on which complaints are based?

Manos Limpias has accused Gomez of using its influence as the prime minister's wife to secure sponsors for a university master course she conducted.

The court has yet to give any details, but its statement came shortly after the El Confidencial news site said investigators were looking into Gomez's ties with some private companies that received funds from the government or won public contracts.

The site said the investigation was linked to Gomez's alleged ties to the Spanish tourism group Globalia, which owns Air Europe Airlines.

She said she had met twice Javier Hidalgo, chief executive of Globalia, when the transport company was in talks with the government to secure a large bailout after being badly hit by the loss of air traffic due to the Devid-19 crisis.

At that time, Gomez directed I Africa Center, a foundation linked to the Madrid Instituto de Empressa (IE) business school, a position she left in 2022.

In a statement issued Thursday morning, Manos Limpias appeared more cautious about charges he had made on the basis of his complaint. The group said it had learned “through various digital newspapers, for information describing alleged irregularities that could be criminal”. She said she had exercised her right to put the matter before a judge, who would be the best to determine if media reports were true.

Madrid's tracking authority said on Thursday that it had sought to dismiss the issue.

How have those allegedly involved responded?

The IE said in a statement that it had never received any financial support from Globalia or its associated companies.

In March, the overseer of Spain's conflict of interests rejected a complaint made by the opposition conservative (PP) People's People's Party, which claimed there was a link between a government rescue package of Air Europe and “economic and professional” of Sanchez's wife.

In a joint statement at the time, Globalia and Air Europe said the assistance received from the Spanish government was “in line with the parameters of other aid received from different companies in this sector in Spain and in the rest of Europe” and she considered herself a victim of “political fire”.

What did Sanchez say?

The prime minister has charged. The PP and the far-right Vox party have co-operated with the right and right-wing Manos Limias and media to carry out a <x0 land, air and sea harassment “groundless> in an attempt to realise personal and political “by attacking his wife”.

In his statement Wednesday evening, he added: “As logical, Begona will defend her honor and cooperate with the justice system as much as is necessary to clarify the facts that are so scandalous in appearance, as well as in existence”.

Speaking in parliament earlier the same day, the prime minister also said he still believed in the Spanish justice system “despite everything”.

What will happen next?

This will depend on what Sanchez decides over the coming days. His allies are urging him to stay on duty. If he decides to do so, he can submit a vote of confidence to support his leadership. If he chooses to resign, parliament could vote for a new prime minister, otherwise early elections could be called and held in July