Judge orders trial for Begoña Gómez and confiscates her passport
A Spanish judge has ordered that Begoña Gómez, wife of government president Pedro Sánchez, be tried by a jury for alleged corruption offences. The measure includes a prohibition on leaving Spain and the surrender of her passport.
Judge orders trial for Begoña Gómez and confiscates her passport
A Spanish judge ordered on Saturday that Begoña Gómez, wife of socialist government president Pedro Sánchez, be brought to trial by a jury for alleged corruption offences. The judicial ruling additionally imposes a prohibition on leaving national territory and the obligation to surrender her passport.
Magistrate Juan Carlos Peinado has ruled that Gómez must appear before the courts twice a month whilst the proceedings continue, justifying the measure by the risk of flight. In his 84-page ruling, the judge has ordered all border crossings and civilian and military airports to monitor compliance with this restriction. No date for the start of the trial has been set as yet.
Peinado had already brought charges against Gómez in April for alleged embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in negotiations and misappropriation. The investigation was opened in April 2024 to determine whether Gómez had benefited from her status as the spouse of the head of the executive to obtain private gain, something that both she and Sánchez deny.
The case centres on the creation and management of a chair at the Complutense University of Madrid that Gómez co-directed, as well as on the alleged use of public resources and personal contacts to promote private interests. According to the judge, "the chair served as a means of private professional development for the investigated party".
The original complaint was filed by an anti-corruption group linked to the far right. Justice Minister Félix Bolaños described the day as "appalling for those of us who believe in justice" and expressed his confidence that "the truth will ultimately prevail". Socialist party leaders have criticised the measure prohibiting departure from the country, considering it disproportionate.
Peinado rejected the argument that the security agents who routinely protect Gómez would prevent possible flight, noting that such officials "could, on their own initiative or following orders from their superiors", facilitate an escape that would leave the accused beyond the reach of justice.
When the investigation was opened in 2024, Sánchez temporarily suspended his public activities for several days to assess whether he should remain in office. The government president has described the charges against his wife as an attempt by the right to destabilise his executive.
This case adds to other corruption matters that have affected former allies and relatives of the socialist leader. Former minister José Luis Ábalos is being tried for alleged receipt of illegal commissions in public contracts for medical material during the COVID-19 pandemic. David Sánchez, the president's brother, faces a trial for alleged receipt of preferential treatment in a public sector job. Former government president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was charged last month for alleged influence peddling related to the rescue of airline Plus Ultra in 2021.
Sánchez, who came to power promising to clean up Spanish politics following a vote of no confidence against the previous conservative government over a corruption scandal, has rejected opposition calls to hold early elections. Sánchez himself has not been charged in any of these cases.
Source: France 24
Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)