MADRID– Thousands of Spanish journalists came out on Friday in support of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his wife following Sánchez’s announcement that he was considering his future as prime minister after a court opened preliminary proceedings against his wife over corruption allegations.
Sánchez, who will announce his future on Monday, blamed the judicial investigation on “spurious” attacks by right-wing and far-right opponents in the media and political parties.
In support, several thousand journalists and writers signed an online manifesto that said: “the attack by the media and the extreme judicial right against the wife of the President of the Government is a new attempt to subvert the popular will expressed in the ballot boxes by illicit means. “
He criticized what he called a “campaign of deception, falsehoods and harassment” against members of the last two left-wing coalition governments, saying they were coordinated and financed by right-wing political parties, aligned media, businesses and members of the judiciary.
The legal complaint against Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, was filed by a far-right legal platform that says Gómez used her position to influence business deals.
The Clean Hands group acknowledged that the complaint was based on newspaper articles. Spanish prosecutors say it should be dismissed.
“The undersigned journalists invite civil society to join this manifesto and mobilize on social networks and in the streets against this anti-democratic attitude,” said Friday’s indignant manifesto.
“Governments are chosen and changed at the polls and in Parliament,” he continued, before ending with the call for “No to the judicial and media coup.” No to the mud machine.”
However, the center-right opposition Popular Party said Sánchez’s behavior was a pathetic ploy to try to win support in upcoming regional and European elections.
Sánchez supporters plan a rally in support of Sánchez in Madrid on Saturday.