Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spain's prime minister, has formally requested her acquittal in an ongoing legal case, according to multiple Spanish media reports on Friday. In her court filing, she also referenced the memoirs of Ana Botella, the wife of former prime minister Mariano Rajoy, to justify the work performed by her personal assistant.
The request was reported by elDiario.es and other outlets, which said Gómez is facing allegations related to influence peddling and her role in creating a university chair at Madrid's Complutense University. Gómez denies any wrongdoing, arguing she did not exploit her marriage to the president to secure the position or to influence university officials, as reported by EL PAÍS and El Mundo.
According to El Economista, Gómez also stated that she directed the Complutense chair without pay, rejecting claims that she profited from the role. She further denied any attempt to enrich herself through a software project connected to the case, El Mundo reported. La Vanguardia added that Gómez maintains her career was not advanced because of her status as the president's spouse.
The decision to cite Ana Botella's memoirs is notable, as Botella previously defended the work of her own assistant during her time in public office. Gómez's legal team reportedly uses this comparison to argue that her assistant's duties were legitimate and should not be viewed as evidence of improper influence.
The case has drawn significant political attention in Spain, with opposition parties closely following the proceedings. Gómez has consistently denied all allegations since the investigation began.
Observers will now wait for the judge's response to the acquittal request, which could determine whether the case proceeds to trial or is dismissed. A ruling is expected in the coming weeks.
