Sánchez's Wife Begoña Ordered to Stand Trial as Corruption Cases Pile Up Around Spain's PM

On 20 June, Spanish judge Juan Carlos Peinado decided to open criminal proceedings against Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, in connection with corruption allegations. At the same time, the court imposed precautionary measures — a travel ban, confiscation of her passport, and an obligation to appear in court twice a month.

On 22 June, Gómez, together with her adviser Cristina Álvarez, must appear in court to surrender their passports.

Gómez is accused of influence peddling, corruption in business dealings, embezzlement, and misappropriation of public funds. Judge Juan Carlos Peinado believes she used her marriage to obtain the position of head of a chair at a Madrid university. The investigation began in 2024 following a complaint from the anti-corruption organisation Manos Limpias, which is linked to right-wing political forces. On 20 April, the prosecution requested a sentence of 24 years in prison for Sánchez's wife.

Gómez and Sánchez deny any wrongdoing. The prime minister has repeatedly called the case politically motivated and "an obscene farce."

Judge Peinado's decision prompted sharp criticism over his justification for the travel ban — the judge suggested that Gómez's security officers, from among National Police officers, might help her flee abroad. Interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska described the statement as unacceptable and filed an official complaint with the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ). The police union SUP also considers it "unacceptable" that Judge Peinado "implies" that the officers accompanying Begoña Gómez might help her escape.

Today, the CGPJ's standing committee decided to open disciplinary proceedings against Peinado over his remarks.

The Gómez case is not the only one touching the prime minister's immediate circle. In May, police conducted a search of the headquarters of the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). The reason was details that had emerged in the course of the investigation into the case of Sánchez's ally Leire Díez. The prosecution is convinced that Díez coordinated the work of certain shadow structures that tried to influence the course of legal proceedings connected to the Socialists. La Cotorra reported in detail on Spain's "Watergate."

In addition, former Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is suspected of involvement in financial irregularities connected to state support of €53 million granted in 2021 to the airline Plus Ultra. Sánchez promised "full cooperation with justice" and expressed "full respect for the presumption of innocence" of Zapatero. The trial of the prime minister's brother, David Sánchez, also began on 28 May. He is accused of having received a specially created position on the municipal council of Badajoz in 2017 (at the time, his brother was not yet prime minister, but was already heading the PSOE).

On 22 June, the Spanish Supreme Court handed down its verdict in the "Koldo Case." The former close ally of Sánchez and former transport minister José Luis Ábalos received 24 years and three months in the case of fraud involving the procurement of protective masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. The minister's former adviser, Koldo García, received 19 years and eight months.

The next parliamentary elections must take place no later than August 2027.