The Office of Conflict of Interests (OCI) in Spain has reiterated its conclusion that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez did not need to abstain from the Cabinet meeting which approved the rescue of Air Europa. This response comes following a directive from the Madrid High Court, which had ordered the investigation of a complaint filed by the People’s Party (PP). The OCI found that Gómez had no personal or professional relationship with the airline, thereby negating any grounds for conflict of interest.

The Madrid High Court previously ruled that the OCI should have conducted further investigations into the PP’s complaint, which claimed Sánchez should have abstained from discussions regarding Air Europa due to potential conflicts involving his wife. The court noted that the OCI’s initial decision lacked adequate investigatory activity and relied on insufficient documentation.

Subsequently, the OCI re-evaluated the situation after collecting additional documentation regarding Begoña Gómez’s professional background going back to June twenty-eighteen, when Sánchez assumed office. The OCI confirmed that Gómez’s previous roles did not implicate her in the decision-making processes related to Air Europa, thus reaffirming the absence of any reason for Sánchez to withdraw from discussions.

Following the conclusion of OCI’s investigation, the PP announced its intention to contest the dismissal of their complaint, arguing that the case has not been adequately resolved. They contend that the OCI implicitly acknowledged a potential offence by Sánchez and that further examination is necessary due to the established links of Gómez with Globalia’s entities, which include Air Europa.