Pedro Sanchez stays on as Spain's prime minister after weighing exit

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00:00He took Spain by surprise when he announced he was considering stepping down after a court

00:06opened a business corruption probe into his wife.

00:09But Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has now decided to continue in office.

00:14I have decided to stay on.

00:18To stay on with more strength, if possible, as head of the government of Spain.

00:22I reaffirm my commitment before you to carry out my duties without tiring, with firmness

00:28and serenity, to rejuvenate our democracy and to consolidate rights and freedoms.

00:36Last week, Sanchez, the head of Spain's Socialist Party, said he was halting public duties to

00:42reflect on his future.

00:44The announcement came not long after a Madrid court said it would investigate his wife,

00:48Begoña Gómez, following accusations of influence peddling brought against her by Manos Limpias,

00:54an organisation whose leader is linked to the far right.

00:58According to online news site El Confidencial, investigators are examining alleged ties between

01:03Gómez and tourism group Globalia, whose airline secured a huge bailout during the Covid-19

01:09crisis.

01:10Sanchez said the accusations were the latest bid by his political opponents to undermine

01:15him.

01:16Thousands of his supporters took to the streets in Madrid over the weekend, urging him not

01:20to resign.

01:21I have come here to demonstrate because of all the media pressure against the government.

01:27And the fraudulent use by the judiciary of a case such as that of the president's wife,

01:32where there is not yet sufficient basis for a trial.

01:39Opposition parties, meanwhile, accused him of avoiding his responsibilities and of having

01:44no intention to resign.

01:46Public prosecutors in Madrid have called for the probe to be thrown out due to lack of

01:50evidence.

01:52On Thursday, Manos Limpias acknowledged in a statement that its accusations may be based

01:56on incorrect media reports.

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