Sánchez to stay on as Spain’s prime ministerPedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, has announced that he staying on in his role.
His decision comes days after the Spanish leader abruptly announced he was considering resigning from office, after a Madrid court said it had opened an investigation into Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez.
The investigation followed a complaint from the pressure group Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), which is known to have had links in the past to Spain’s far right.
In a dramatic speech this morning, Sánchez said he decided to continue as prime minister and called for a collective reflection, as well as cleaning up what he described as toxic practices in public life.
He called on Spanish society to become an example and inspiration for the world.
“I have acted out of a clear conviction,” Sánchez said. “Either we say enough, or this degradation of public life will determine our future, condemning us as a country,” he added.
“Thanks to that social mobilisation, which has influenced my decision, I can tell you what I’ve already told our head of state: I’ve decided to stay and fight even harder as prime minister,” he said.
He also called for an end to political and media attacks, adding: “Let’s stop this mud-slinging by collectively rejecting it … I ask Spanish society to once again become an example and an inspiration to a wounded world.”
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A handout photo made available by Moncloa Palace shows Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez giving a statement to the press to communicate his decision of not resigning from his post. Photograph: Moncloa Palace Handout/EPA