Volkswacht Bodensee - Spain PM's wife Gomez stays silent before judge in graft probe

The investigation into Gomez over alleged corruption and influence peddling has infuriated Sanchez, who has characterised the allegations as an effort undermining him and his left-wing government.

Gomez arrived at the Madrid court for the highly anticipated closed hearing shortly before 10:00 am (0800 GMT), entering through the parking garage to avoid a throng of journalists.

She left the office of judge Juan Carlos Peinado a few minutes later without making a statement.

A judicial source said she had invoked her right to remain silent during the closed session.

Leaving the court after the brief hearing, Gomez's lawyer Antonio Camacho said "this procedure has no reason to exist at this stage".

He pointed out that the investigations into the matter conducted so far "have yielded nothing".

"We do not understand what is guiding the investigating judge in this investigation, which is growing in scope," he added, criticising the judge.

Miguel Tellado, spokesman for the right-wing opposition Popular Party (PP), said that Gomez "refuses to speak before the court, just as Sanchez refuses to speak before Congress" about the accusations.

- 'Nothing unusual' -

Gomez had already attended the court on July 5, but the hearing was suspended within minutes after her lawyer said they had "not been notified" about all the complaints against her and asked for time to study them.

The investigation was opened on April 16 following a complaint by Manos Limpias ("Clean Hands"), an anti-graft NGO linked to the far-right, which alleged corruption in the private sector and influence peddling, while admitting its claims were based on media reports.

A second complaint was filed by Hazte Oir ("Make Yourself Heard") -- an ultra-Catholic pressure group linked to the far right -- also alleging influence peddling.

Gomez, who has worked in fundraising for years, notably for foundations and NGOs, is suspected of using her husband's position as leverage within her professional circles, notably with a businessman and consultant, Juan Carlos Barrabes, who received public funding.

Testifying before the judge on Monday, Barrabes -- who teaches part of a master's course at Madrid's Complutense University that is run by Gomez -- acknowledged meeting with her five or six times at Moncloa, the official residence of the Spanish premier.

Sanchez was also present at two of those meetings, he said.

The businessmen -- who got two letters of recommendation from Gomez before pitching for a public tender worth several million euros -- said such meetings touched only on matters of innovation, judicial sources said.

"There is absolutely nothing" unusual in such meetings, said Socialist Party spokeswoman Esther Pena, adding it was normal for Sanchez "to meet businessmen, cultural bodies or institutions".

The same view was taken by Guardia Civil police investigators who presented the court with a new report in early July concluding there were no irregularities on Gomez's part.

The public prosecutor's office also called for the case to be closed for lack of evidence at the end of April.

But Peinado refused, insisting there was "sufficient" evidence to justify continuing the probe.

- Anti-disinformation plan -

The case has provoked a growing chorus of criticism from the right-wing opposition.

"It is neither ethical nor acceptable for Moncloa to sign letters of recommendation for companies wanting to receive public money," opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo said in parliament on Wednesday.

When news of the probe broke in April, Sanchez shocked Spain by saying he was considering resigning over what he described as a campaign of political harassment by the right. He ultimately decided to stay on.

Gomez, 49, has not spoken publicly on the case but Sanchez has denounced it as a political bid to "harass and discredit" him by "media heavily influenced by the right and far right".

On Wednesday, he unveiled a plan for "democratic regeneration" aimed at fighting disinformation, sparking fierce opposition from the right.

Gomez did not want to give up her career when her husband became premier in 2018 and has retained a low public profile. She does not hold public office.

U.Maertens--VB