Spain: disciplinary procedure opened against judge overseeing case of Pedro Sánchez's wife
The CGPJ has opened a disciplinary investigation against judge Juan Carlos Peinado for his comments about possible police involvement in a potential escape by Begoña Gómez.
Spain: disciplinary procedure opened against judge overseeing case of Pedro Sánchez's wife
The body responsible for overseeing the conduct of judges in Spain has decided to open a disciplinary process against Juan Carlos Peinado, who is heading the investigation affecting Begoña Gómez, the partner of the Prime Minister. The decision comes after the judge expressed in a judicial ruling that members of law enforcement could collaborate in a potential escape by the person under investigation.
On the previous Saturday, after two years of enquiries, Peinado ruled that Gómez should be tried by a jury for alleged acts of corruption, and also imposed on her the restriction of not leaving the country. In the grounds of his order, the judge stated that police officers "could, either on their own initiative or following instructions from their superiors, help to facilitate an escape" by the Prime Minister's spouse.
These statements generated a strong reaction from the highest-ranking officials of the National Police, who issued a statement in which they described such reasoning as "unjustified" and asserted the "political neutrality and full impartiality" that must govern the actions of officers. The General Council of the Judiciary, based in the Spanish capital, considered on Monday that the words of the investigating judge "could constitute a serious breach of the duty of respect" towards public security officials. Infractions classified as serious can result in fines of up to six thousand euros.
Gómez's case is part of the various alleged corruption schemes that have affected the circle close to the leader of the PSOE, threatening to destabilise his fragile government coalition. During the month of April, the judge indicted her for misappropriation of public funds, bribery, corruption in commercial transactions and embezzlement within a case initiated in 2024 to clarify whether she used her position as spouse of the head of government to obtain personal benefits linked to her teaching work at the Complutense University of Madrid.
Both Gómez herself and Sánchez have flatly rejected the charges, interpreting them as an attempt by the opposition to undermine the stability of the cabinet. The Minister of Justice, Félix Bolaños, described the situation on Monday as "absolutely anomalous" and maintained that it "damages the image of justice". Peinado, who must step down from his duties in September due to retirement, has summoned the person under investigation for Wednesday at four o'clock in the afternoon to hand over her passport, in order to prevent any attempt to leave Spanish territory. Precisely on that day, Sánchez will appear before the lower chamber at seven o'clock in the morning to speak on the full range of judicial proceedings that have touched his circle and the party that he leads.
Information originally published by Le Figaro.
Source: Google News LU FR