Thousands of supporters of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez have rallied on the streets of Madrid in a bid to persuade him not to resign.
The Socialist Party leader surprised the nation Wednesday by announcing he was canceling all public engagements as he pondered his future.
He made the decision after a court launched an initial investigation into his wife over corruption allegations.
Sanchez is expected to announce a decision regarding his future on Monday.
Supporters of the Socialist Party traveled by bus from all over the country to join a demonstration in support of Mr. Sánchez outside the party's headquarters in Madrid, chanting “Pedro, don't give up” and “You are not alone.”
One such supporter, Sara Dominguez, a consultant in her 30s, said she hoped Sanchez's government had “taken good steps for women, the LGBT community and minorities.”
José María Diez, a 44-year-old government employee who came from Valladolid in northern Spain to show his support, said there was a real possibility that far-right forces would take control if Sánchez resigned.
“This represents a setback for our rights and freedoms,” he said.
According to the central government delegation in Madrid, 12,500 people took part.
Sanchez announced his decision to consider resigning on the same day it was revealed that a Madrid court had launched an investigation into his wife, Begoña Gomez, over allegations of spreading influence.
The charges against her were brought by Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), an organization led by a man with far-right ties called Miguel Bernado.
The preliminary investigation is looking into Gomez's relationships with private companies that have secured government funding and public contracts.
Specifically, a foundation he ran called the IE Africa Center and tourism, whose airline Air Europa received a €475m (£407m) bailout during the coronavirus crisis. We are investigating the group's relationship with Gloriaria.
Sanchez and his supporters say the allegations, widely reported in right-wing media, are false.
On Thursday, Madrid prosecutors called for the investigation to be halted due to lack of evidence. Barnado's lawsuit consists of news clippings, one of which has already been proven to be false.
Sánchez, who heads the coalition, said the allegations against his wife were the latest attempt by right-wing parties and the media to undermine him.
“A prime minister cannot be ousted by a false lawsuit,” said Emiliano García-Page, the socialist president of the Castilla-La Mancha region and previously one of Mr. Sánchez's biggest critics within the party. .
He spoke earlier at the Socialist Party's federal committee, but Sanchez did not attend.
First Vice Prime Minister María Jesús Montero also spoke at the conference, denouncing the “savage far right and the collusive and despicable right.”
“Prime Minister, please stay. Pedro, please stay. We are with you,” she said. If Sanchez resigns on Monday, Montero will become interim prime minister.
There is also speculation that he could hold a parliamentary vote of confidence or hold an election to solidify his position, but that will not be possible until the end of May.
But opposition politicians have accused Sanchez of playing the victim and saying he has no intention of resigning.
“Most serious is the authoritarian habit of the prime minister and his government, which refuses to embrace democracy and believes they have impunity, not seen since.” [dictator Francisco] Franco,” said Alberto Nuñez Feijó, leader of the conservative Popular Party (PP).
