MADRID (AP) Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Snchez on Monday ended days of speculation about his future by saying he will continue in office with even more strength.

Snchez shocked his country last Wednesday by taking five days off to think about his future, following the decision by a court to open preliminary proceedings against his wife on corruption allegations.

I have decided to continue on with even more strength at the helm of the government of Spain, he said in a televised speech after informing King Felipe VI of the decision earlier Monday.

His resignation would have deprived Europe of its longest-serving Socialist prime minister currently in charge of a major European Union country right before European elections in June.

It is a decision that does not mean a return to the status quo, this will mark a before and after, I promise you that, Snchez said, without detailing what steps he could take to curtail the smear campaign he says he and his family is facing.