Spanish opposition accuse Sánchez of melodrama as PM decides on his future

Spanish opposition parties have stepped up their attacks on the socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, as he prepares to announce whether he will resign because of what he describes as a "harassment and bullying operation" being waged against him and his wife by his political and media enemies.

- Sam Jones

Sánchez shocked people in Spain on Wednesday when he published a letter announcing that he would abandon his public duties for five days while he weighed up whether to step down, adding that he would reveal his decision today.

Earlier on Wednesday, a Madrid court had said it had opened a preliminary investigation into Sánchez's wife, Begoña Gómez, "for alleged influence peddling and corruption".

The investigation followed a complaint from the pressure group Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), a self-styled trade union with far-right links that has a long history of using the courts to pursue those it deems to be acting against Spain's democratic interests.

In his letter, Sánchez said the Manos Limpias complaint was based on "alleged reporting" by news sites whose political leanings he described as "overtly rightwing and far right", adding: "Begoña will defend her honour and will cooperate with the justice system to clear up facts that are as scandalous in appearance as they are nonexistent."