The rector of Complutense (UCM), Joaquin Goyachecategorically denied that the university provided no preferential treatment for Pedro Sánchez’s wifeBegoña Gómez, for her status as wife of the President of the Government.
The businesswoman co-directed two chairs at the UCM, which were recently abolished. However, Madrid judge Juan Carlos Peinado is investigating the conditions of their creation.
At the same time, the Madrid Assembly inaugurated this Wednesday a commission of inquiry into the relations between Gómez and Complutense. And, after the appearance of Sánchez’s wife —who refused to testify—Goyache’s turn has arrived. He answered questions from representatives of the PP, PSOE, Vox and Más Madrid.
The rector confirmed having met, in the summer of 2020, Begoña Gómez at La Moncloa. And he expressed that he considered it “the safest, in terms of biological safety”given that in the middle of that year Spain was experiencing a “post-lockdown” due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Goyache, during his speech, indicated that it was the wife of Pedro Sánchez who proposed this appointment to him in a telephone call, which led to the creation of a chair that the businesswoman would finish by co-directing. More precisely, the Extraordinary Chair in Competitive Social Transformation (TSC).
According to the rector, Gómez proposed that both meet at the headquarters of the Complutense School of Government, which was not possible. Later, the Rectorate suggested it, but it was “practically closed”. Later, Gómez “offered to do a video conference”, which was also not possible.
During the telephone conversation, Begoña Gómez allegedly “proposed to discuss a series of topics, among which the subject of the professorship was not included,” which she brought up during the meeting in person. And it would eventually pay off.
Finally they met an “official building” of Moncloawhich he could not precisely identify. There, the businesswoman allegedly informed him that she benefited from financial support from the La Caixa Foundation and Reale Seguros entities.
“He suggested that I promote continuing education and organize an event on women for sustainable development. He told me that a series of strong institutions were interested in creating this chair. They were the La Caixa Foundation and Reales Segurosbut I don’t remember if he gave me those names at that time or not,” Goyache said when asked by PP deputy Mercedes Zarzalejos.
And the rector welcomed his offer. “I told him that if they respected the regulations, of course, it was good for the UCM. It was a question of social transformation and SMEs; for us, it was interesting,” said the rector . “I did not participate in the creation [de la cátedra]outside of this first contact,” he added.
“The chair was not created with Begoña Gómez, it was the vehicle that put us in contact with them [Reale Seguros y Fundación La Caixa]. It is a chair created with two great institutions that everyone would be delighted to have.
That there are institutions is normal because it is a way of financing yourself,” declared the speaker.
Begoña Gómez, wife of the government president of the Madrid Assembly committee.
Goyache, however, admitted that he thought Gómez was a graduate, when she was not. However, he stressed that the position of co-director of a chair —the one played by Gómez— It consists “solely of managing its activities; the academic and possible research part; invoices and contracts…”.
He also emphasized that Co-direction of an extraordinary chair in no way requires holding professor status.. In fact, since 2013, Sánchez’s wife was already leading her own continuing education. And the other co-director of the chair was a member of the UCM.
Regarding the meeting in Moncloa with Gómez, Goyache stressed that both were the only participants. Sánchez’s wife’s secretary was not present, as indicated by the commission of inquiry.
In response to questions from the Vox representative, the rector indicated that the UCM “did not violate” the University regulations by appointing, on the proposal of the Chair Monitoring Commission, Begoña Gómez as co-director.
He also ruled out that the speed with which this academic project was developed, a few months after the Moncloa meeting, was not abnormal and did not constitute preferential treatment.
The UCM “software”
To questions from the PP, Goyache indicated that It is not known whether Gómez “appropriated” a software developed for the chair. This is one of the facts that Judge Juan Carlos Peinado is investigating within the framework of what is called Begoña affair. The appearing party therefore refused to pursue this matter further.
But in the meantime, he ruled out, “with the information we have”, that there was embezzlement on the part of Begoña Gómez. And this is one of the alleged crimes, attributed to Sánchez’s wife, that Judge Juan Carlos Peinado is investigating. “Before, I was a little speechless”the appearing party was dissatisfied.
Gómez offered, through the website of a sole proprietorship he owned, a free digital tool to advise SMEs on sustainability issues, similar to a software developed, against payment by the UCM, for the chair.
And, as EL ESPAÑOL published, the software from the website of Begoña Gomez He used content paid for by Complutense on sustainability, but with the logo and emails of the company created by Pedro Sánchez’s wife, Transforma TSC SL.
The application also offers an “impact report” for SMEsa document which aims to facilitate access to public and private financing.
The rector indicated, regarding the alleged appropriation of the tool, that the University has ordered “a series of internal procedures” to investigate this matter.
“The image of Complutense cannot be called into question. Were things done well, Mr. Goyache?” asked Marta Bernardo, PSOE representative on the commission. “Things were done very well,” said the rector.
