A judge has ordered that Begoña Gomez, the wife of Spain’s Socialist prime minister Pedro Sanchez, face trial on allegations she used her position as the prime minister’s spouse to obtain work contracts. Investigating judge Juan Carlos Peinado issued the ruling on Saturday and attached pre-trial conditions that include the surrender of her passport, a prohibition on leaving Spain and a requirement to report to court twice monthly.
Gomez has denied any wrongdoing. The initial complaint that led to the investigation was filed by far-right groups opposed to Sanchez’s party. The case moves forward despite repeated denials of misconduct from those targeted.
Legal measures and immediate consequences
The judge’s order requires Gomez to hand over her passport and effectively prevents international travel while the investigation proceeds. In addition to the travel ban, she must present herself at a designated court location twice each month. Sources cited by El Pais indicated that Gomez intends to appeal the conditions imposed by the investigating judge, including the passport withdrawal.
The Socialist Party reacted on the social media platform X, stating: "(Begoña) has been subjected to judicial and political persecution for two years. Today’s development is another step in that process." Prime Minister Sanchez himself has not been named in these proceedings and has characterized the series of probes as part of a campaign aimed at removing him from office.
Related investigations within the political circle
This case is among several corruption investigations that are either approaching trial or already at that stage and are exerting pressure on Sanchez and his party. Several individuals close to the prime minister - including the Socialist Party’s number three and Sanchez’s former transport minister - are under investigation in separate matters that allege kickbacks linked to public works contracts, oil and gas deals and the procurement of masks during the pandemic. Those under scrutiny deny any wrongdoing.
Separately, Spain’s High Court has opened an investigation into former prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero over allegations that he led a network which profited from lobbying public authorities on behalf of third parties, among them the airline Plus Ultra. Zapatero has denied the claims.
The judge’s decision to send Gomez to trial and the multiple ongoing probes underline an intensifying period of judicial scrutiny affecting prominent political figures, even as formal accusations against the prime minister himself have not been made.