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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has put his public duties on hold to contemplate whether he should continue leading the government. This decision comes after a court initiated a preliminary inquiry into allegations against his wife, Begoña Gómez. The allegations, raised by the anti-corruption group Manos Limpias, suggest influence peddling and corruption. However, these claims are based on online news articles, prompting doubts about their validity.

Sánchez expressed his intention to make a decision regarding his political future next Monday. He denounced what he perceives as a concerted effort to undermine him politically and personally, particularly targeting his wife. The specific accusations against Begoña Gómez relate to her connections with private companies that received government funds or contracts, including a sponsorship deal involving Globalia and a foundation she was involved with.

The situation is politically charged, with Sánchez’s coalition government relying on support from Catalan separatist parties. This support was secured in exchange for concessions such as an amnesty covering the banned Catalan referendum in 2017. The opposition, particularly the conservative Popular Party, has demanded explanations, but Sánchez maintains his belief in justice despite the mounting pressure.

The situation reflects a complex political landscape in Spain, with implications for both national and regional politics, including the upcoming European Parliament elections and Catalonia’s regional elections.

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The European Union has initiated investigations into major tech companies such as Meta, Apple, and Alphabet (Google’s parent company) over potential violations of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) introduced in 2022. If found guilty, these companies could face fines of up to 10% of their annual turnover.

EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager and industry head Thierry Breton announced the investigations, focusing on allegations of anti-competitive practices by these tech giants. The DMA, which targets companies considered to be digital gatekeepers, aims to foster fair competition in the digital market.

The investigations are particularly focused on whether these companies are impeding fair competition, such as by limiting app communication with users, restricting user choice, or favoring their own services in search results. For instance, Apple faces scrutiny for its App Store policies, while Meta is being investigated for its advertising practices.

These investigations come shortly after Apple was fined €1.8 billion for competition law violations related to music streaming, and amid a landmark lawsuit in the United States accusing Apple of monopolizing the smartphone market.

Both Apple and Meta have responded, expressing willingness to engage with the investigation and asserting their compliance with the DMA. However, Alphabet has yet to comment on the matter.

The EU aims to complete the investigations within approximately 12 months, with a focus on ensuring open and contestable digital markets in Europe. The timing of these actions, just ahead of European Parliament elections, underscores the EU’s commitment to consumer protection and fair competition in the digital sphere.

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