BY PARTICIPATING IN the Council of Ministers on November 3, 2020
RR | Miami | July 5, 2024
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RELATED TOPICS: Africa Center, Air Europa, Begoña Gómez, Globalia, Javier Hidalgo, Law on Conflict of Interests, Miami, Pedro Sánchez, Wakalua
In the minutes of the Council of Ministers of November 3, 2020, where the USD 514 million bailout of Air Europa was decided, the presence of the President of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, was recorded, knowing that his wife, Begoña Gómez, had a relationship with the CEO of Globalia, Javier Hidalgo.
With this document, which is in the hands of the courts, it would be proven that President Sánchez decided to grant the aid. According to the Law on Conflict of Interests, the president should have been absent from that Council of Ministers, as stated Preferential.
Apparently, Sánchez’s wife had two meetings with the executive of Globalia, owner of Air Europa, before granting him the multi-million-dollar bailout. In addition, the company Wakalua, which belongs to Globalia, had a sponsorship agreement with África Center, led by Begoña Gómez.
Article 11 of the Conflict of Interest Law states that “senior officials shall objectively serve the general interest, and must prevent their personal interests from unduly influencing the exercise of their functions and responsibilities. Personal interests are understood to be family interests, including those of their spouse or person with whom they live in a similar relationship of affection and relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity or second degree of affinity.”
Likewise, number 15 indicates that “a senior official is understood to participate in the adoption of a decision that affects an entity” when he or she intervenes, “through his or her vote or the presentation of the corresponding proposal, in sessions of collegiate bodies in which the decision was adopted in relation to the company or entity.”
As reported by REPORTUR.usIn May, Judge Juan Carlos Peinado attributed to Begoña Gómez the status of being investigated from the first moment he opened proceedings following the complaint filed by Manos Limpias, in which the wife of the President of the Government was accused of alleged crimes of influence peddling and corruption in the private sector. (Air Europa: Sánchez’s wife charged with corruption).
