The Moncloa's maneuver to shield Begoña Gómez and Pedro Sánchez

The wife of Pedro Sánchez, the President of the Government, remains under investigation by the judiciary for four alleged crimes. One of the biggest scandals involving Begoña Gómez was about the supposed letter of recommendation in favor of businessman Carlos Barrabés. The same businessman claimed before the judge to have met with Pedro Sánchez and his wife at the Palacio de La Moncloa.

The most serious issue, following Carlos Barrabés's statement, was that days prior, Pedro Sánchez had claimed not to know the businessman. After the evident loss of credibility of the president, doubts began to arise about his relationship with Barrabés. Many have also become interested in knowing what Sánchez discussed with the businessman and Begoña Gómez at Moncloa, and above all, why he concealed it.

However, Moncloa refuses to provide explanations about these meetings between Barrabés, Gómez, and Sánchez to Transparency. Regarding this, the Ministry of the Presidency has declined to provide details about the meetings held at La Moncloa. According to *Vozpópuli*, between seven and eight meetings are said to have taken place from January 2020 to July 2024, two of which included the participation of Pedro Sánchez himself.

The official reply from the Presidency, issued late, claims that this body doesn't have the authority to manage information related to the personal agenda of the president's spouse. This is unless it is linked to her official activity or security issues. As for the meetings in which the head of the Executive participated, the Presidency team, led by Félix Bolaños, has chosen not to comment on the matter.

This lack of information has raised questions about the nature of the meetings and the transparency in managing matters related to the president's entourage. It is not the first time that Moncloa has come to the rescue of Begoña Gómez. From EDATV, we have requested information about the activities carried out by the president's wife, closely linked to state institutions, and they have refused to provide information.

This is the convenient treatment of La Moncloa toward Begoña Gómez that they want to hide

Last November, the wife of Pedro Sánchez arrived with an entire entourage at the Investigation Commission. A security cordon of the National Police awaited her upon arrival. In addition to this, she was escorted by Sánchez's trusted men and joined by the PSOE's Dircom.

The Government puts state resources at the service of the president's wife, even though she holds no public office. Begoña Gómez is only a member of the Socialist Party; however, she enjoys government benefits as if she were a high-ranking official. But this ends when Moncloa is asked about matters related to the president's wife and her participation in official trips, use of resources, among others.

On several occasions, from EDATV, we have asked the Transparency portal about the expenses of the president's wife on official trips or in her recent judicial investigation. When it comes to obtaining information about the benefits Begoña Gómez enjoys from the public administration, La Moncloa limits itself to saying that Begoña holds no public office. This is why, according to Moncloa, they don't provide any details of her participation in trips or official events.

The Government protects all information related to the president's wife. So much so that they are unable to reveal how many officials were used and how much money has been invested in the security cordons made exclusively for her.