Wife of Spain’s PM Sanchez files assault complaint against far-right influencer

MADRID, April 30 (Reuters) – The wife of Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has filed a legal complaint against a far-right political campaigner and social media influencer for alleged assault on Wednesday in a cafe in Madrid where he confronted her about a corruption case.

A selfie video posted online by influencer Vito Quiles showed him approaching Begoña Gomez in the cafe and following her into the street to ask her about the case despite being challenged by two women who forcibly kept him away from Gomez while she got into a taxi.

Gomez is under investigation over allegations that she used her position as the prime minister’s wife to secure work contracts. She denies any wrongdoing and a Spanish prosecutor this month asked the investigating judge to close the case, which was brought by far-right groups.

Quiles did not immediately respond to a request for comment via X, where he posted the video.

Quiles’ behaviour towards Gomez on Wednesday was roundly condemned both by members of Spain’s Socialist government and the conservative opposition People’s Party.

However, Ester Muñoz, spokesperson for the PP, said Quiles was “also a victim”, due to the actions of the women keeping him away from Gomez, and that she “understands that there are journalists who want to ask questions” of Gomez.

Her case is one of several corruption accusations nearing or already at trial that are dogging Sanchez, one of Europe’s few remaining leftist leaders.

This week, witnesses are testifying in a case against his former transport minister in court.

Victor Aldama, a witness in a corruption case involving former minister Jose Luis Abalos, told a court on Wednesday that Sanchez had been aware of kickback payments made to his Socialist party PSOE.

A spokesperson for PSOE called Aldama’s testimony a lie and said it planned to take his slanderous remarks to the Supreme Court.

(Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Charlie Devereux and Joan Faus; Editing by Aislinn Laing and Alison Williams)