The socialist premier used his legal right not to testify against his wife Begoña Gómez when questioned by Judge Juan Carlos Peinado on Tuesday.
Shortly after the hearing, Spain’s state legal services filed a lawsuit in Sánchez’s name claiming abuse of office by the judge.
It said the premier’s request to testify in writing, as allowed under Spanish law for top government officials, had been unjustifiably rejected.
“The dignity of the institution of the office of the prime minister is being defended,” Sánchez told a news conference when asked why the lawsuit was filed.
The “rights” of the office “have been violated, nothing more and nothing less, by the judge,” he added.
Sánchez went on to describe the case as “a set up”, a “non-existent case”, and said the scenes where Vox, Hazte Oir, Manos Limpias and other far-right organisations were “fighting” over who would be allowed to enter his witness hearing were “pathetic” and “embarrassing”.
“Time will put things in their place and this Government is focused on what is important, we are governing and others can continue to fabricate (lies),” the PM concluded.
Gómez is being investigated for alleged influence-peddling and corruption following a complaint filed by anti-graft NGO “Manos Limpias” – Spanish for “Clean Hands” – which has links to the far right.
She is alleged to have used her husband’s position as leverage within her professional circles to influence contracts or set up a masters program at a Madrid university where she works.
Gómez also invoked her right to remain silent under questioning by the judge earlier this month.
She has not spoken publicly about the case but Sánchez has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing by his wife and dismissed the allegations as part of a right-wing smear campaign.
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