The investigation commission on the alleged favoritism of the Complutense University towards Begoña Gómez, wife of the Prime Minister, faces its next session with the confirmed absence of Pedro Sánchez, who communicated that he will not attend the meeting. After the testimonies of the former vice-rector Juan Carlos Doadrio and the advisor Cristina Álvarez, the commission is suspended pending the ruling of the Council of State to determine Sánchez's obligation to participate. The PP has already removed the name of his substitute in anticipation of the official response.
In a statement addressed to the Assembly, La Moncloa, through its chief of staff Diego Rubio, justified Sánchez's absence based on the doctrine of the Council of State that holds that autonomous parliaments cannot require the appearance of state authorities. Sánchez's decision not to attend had already been anticipated by the PP last week.
In the event that the Council of State determines that Sánchez's presence is mandatory, the commission will send him the summons again with the legal consequences of a possible noncompliance. In the meantime, the commission session scheduled for Wednesday will take place with the confirmed testimonies of Doadrio and Álvarez, leaving a possible new requirement for Sánchez pending. The ruling of the Council of State will have a period of 15 days to be issued, which will force the commission to postpone its activities until then.
