Hours after a judge proceedings were opened against Begoña Gómez, Pedro Sánchez’s wife, for alleged crimes of influence peddling and private corruption, the President of the Government published a personally written letter addressed to citizens in which he announced the following: “I will cancel my public agenda for a few days to be able to reflect and decide which path to take.” His return will be on Monday, April 29at which time he will appear before the media to report his decision.
His first absence: the start of the Catalan campaign
All this occurs in the middle of a decisive electoral campaign in Catalonia, in which a large presence of Sánchez was expected. In fact, the President of the Government planned to accompany this Thursday, April 25, the socialist candidate for the presidency of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, in the opening of the campaign catalan elections in Sabadell.
However, the socialists do not suspend their agenda and continue with the electoral campaign, although they express absolute respect for their decision: “I respect your period of reflection and if you ask me I will give you my opinion”, said Illa, after revealing that she has not had any conversation with Sánchez and that she has only exchanged messages. “I’m sure he will continue doing well soon,” she added, referring to the president’s return.
Meeting of the Federal Committee of the PSOE
Pedro Sanchez Nor will he attend the meeting in Ferraz of the Federal Committee of the PSOE on Saturday, April 27.where the designation of the third vice president and minister for the Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, as a socialist candidate for the elections to the European Parliament will be voted on.
Her candidacy and eventual election as MEP will lead President Pedro Sánchez – if he continues, finally, at the head of the Executive – to do, even without a specific date, the second reshuffle of the Government in six monthsafter the appointment of Carlos Cuerpo as Minister of Economy to replace Nadia Calviño.
PSC electoral act
The last of the three appointments that Sánchez has canceled in his ‘period of reflection’ also concerns the Catalan elections: next Sunday, April 28nor will he accompany Illa at a rally in Santa Coloma de Gramenet (Barcelona).
