Spanish PM summoned to testify in wife's graft probe

Pedro Sanchez is set on Tuesday to become the second serving Spanish prime minister to testify before a judge, after his predecessor Mariano Rajoy in 2017. Three premiers have had to do so years after leaving office.

- Pedro Sanchez -

The Socialist premier, who has been in office since 2018, has been summoned to testify as a witness by a judge investigating suspected influence peddling by his wife Begona Gomez.

Gomez, who has worked in fundraising for years, is alleged to have used her husband's position as leverage within her professional circles, notably with businessman Juan Carlos Barrabes, who was seeking public funding.

- Mariano Rajoy -

Rajoy, who governed between 2011 and 2018, was summoned as a witness in 2017 in a trial of members of his conservative Popular Party (PP) and businesspeople accused of running a party slush fund that involved kickbacks in exchange for public contracts.

Rajoy was not charged and he denied any knowledge of the scheme, but several PP members were convicted. The following year, he was ousted in a vote of no confidence in parliament, which brought Sanchez to power.

- Jose Maria Aznar -

Former PP prime minister Aznar, who governed between 1996 and 2004, testified in the same corruption trial as Rajoy. Neither Rajoy nor Aznar were charged and the case has had no personal consequences for the former leaders.

- Felipe Gonzalez -

Spain's first Socialist premier since the country returned to democracy following the death of longtime dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, Gonzalez testified at two trials since leaving office in 1996 after 14 years in the top job.

The first trial focused on the covert war waged against armed Basque separatist group ETA by the Anti-Terrorist Liberation Groups (GAL), which was set up by members of Spain's security forces.

The second trial in 2001 concerned two of his former interior ministers who were accused of embezzling public money to give gifts to friends and family, and to provide extra pay to aides.

- Adolfo Suarez -

Spain's first freely elected premier after the end of the Franco dictatorship, Suarez testified as a witness in 1985 -- four years after leaving office -- at the trial of banker Mario Conde.

The former centrist premier denied allegations he received money from Conde in exchange for favours.

Suarez, who died in 2014, was not prosecuted in the case.