Disputes and criticisms from "titubeos": such was the intense grilling of Judge Peinado Bolaños.
Three Hours of Sizzling Verbal Exchanges: The Minister of Presidency, Félix Bolañós, faced a grueling three-hour grilling by Judge Juan Carlos Peinado on April 16, regarding the hiring of Cristina Álvarez, an advisor to Begona Gómez, spouse of the President of Spain's Government. Tensions ran high, with the judge lambasting Bolañós for supposed evasions and a lack of judicial decorum. In an exclusive recording obtained by our site, Bolañós vehemently defended himself, asserting that he was answering honestly, and not dismissively.
Dodging Bullets or Answering Truthfully?: One contentious exchange involved Peinado chiding Bolañós for purported hesitation when discussing Alfredo González's appointment as Vice Secretary General of the Presidency. Bolañós clarified that this was a collective decision of the Council of Ministers, and he was the one who likely proposed González. Despite this, Peinado pressed for an emphatic, categorical affirmation – a request that Bolañós found somewhat perplexing given the seven-year time lapse since the appointment. He humorously suggested that it might be because he was "not used to an interrogation."
Ignorance is Bliss?: In response to Peinado's questions about Álvarez's job duties, Bolañós candidly admitted that he had had limited interactions with her and was unaware of her day-to-day responsibilities. He had only coincided with her "a handful of times" and held "very little relationship" with her. Upon being asked about any knowledge of Álvarez engaging in Begoña Gómez's private activities, Bolañós claimed ignorance.
12 Months Later: Following Bolañós' testimony, the judge has drawn flak for allegedly showing bias and aggression. Statements from Moncloa and testimonies from four fresh witnesses are expected in the coming weeks. The case remains under investigation, potentially shedding light on potential irregularities in the hiring of Cristina Álvarez and the role of key figures within the Spanish government.
Behind the Scenes: This high-profile case centers on Cristina Álvarez's employment as an advisor to Begona Gómez, wife of the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez. Allegations of embezzlement and misuse of public funds have arisen, with Judge Juan Carlos Peinado conducting a probe since over a year. Other key figures, like Francisco Martín Aguirre, a government delegate in Madrid, have also been called for questioning.
[1] https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investigación_judicial_de_la_contratación_de_Cristina_Álvarez[2] https://www.hoy.es/nacional/accusation-pide-instructar-presunta-crimen-infraccion-contra-leva-de-civil-publico-20230421-3041891.html[3] https://www.elsombra.es/espana/juicio-de-felix-bolanos-la-sra-go-mez[4] https://elpais.com/politica/2023/04/17/actualidad/1681776178_681463.html[5] https://www.elconfidencial.com/politica/2023-04-17/felix-bolanos-ingreso-en-juicio-quien-es-cristina-alvarez-a-que-fue-asistente-de-bego-go-mez_6595481/
Policy-and-legislation Implications: The contentious court proceedings involving Minister Félix Bolañós raise questions about the transparency and accountability in the hiring of government advisors, potentially leading to policy discussions and potential legislative changes regarding public appointments.
General News and Crime-and-justice Connection: The ongoing investigation into the hiring of Cristina Álvarez, an advisor to Begona Gómez, wife of the Spanish Prime Minister, has maintaining a presence in the general news, with allegations of embezzlement and misuse of public funds, implicating key figures in the Spanish government, including Minister Bolañós.
