Travel ban imposed on Spanish president's wife in corruption case
Spanish courts have ordered Begoña Gómez, the wife of Pedro Sánchez, to remain in the country and appear periodically before the authorities whilst her trial for alleged corruption offences is prepared.
Travel ban imposed on Spanish president's wife in corruption case
Spanish courts have decided that Begoña Gómez, the wife of executive chief Pedro Sánchez, must face a criminal trial with a jury for alleged corruption offences. As a precautionary measure, she has been prevented from leaving Spanish territory and must appear before the relevant authorities fortnightly until trial takes place. This was set out in a judicial order made public on Saturday, according to TV5 Monde.
The investigating magistrate, Juan Carlos Peinado, had already brought charges against Gómez in April for alleged offences including embezzlement, trading in influence, bribery in commercial transactions and administrative misconduct. The investigation began in April 2024 to clarify whether the person under investigation had used her marital link to the country's highest-ranking official to obtain personal gain, something both she and her spouse have firmly denied.
The core of the investigation centres on a university lectureship set up and managed at Madrid's Complutense University, where Gómez held the co-directorship. The evidence points to possible misuse of public resources and personal contacts to promote private benefits. In the indictment, the judge argued that the lectureship had functioned as a "means of private professional development" for the person under investigation.
The initial complaint came from an anti-corruption association affiliated with far-right organisations. There is currently no date set for the trial hearing, a proceeding that takes on considerable political significance.
In the extensive reasoning behind his ruling—eighty-four pages—Peinado has instructed all land, maritime and air borders, including military airfields, to prevent any attempt by Gómez to leave Spanish territory. The magistrate rejected the argument that the security detail that usually accompanies her would guarantee her presence in Spain, arguing that these officials could, on their own initiative or on the instructions of senior officers, facilitate an escape that would undermine the course of justice.
When the scandal broke in April 2024, Sánchez chose to temporarily step back from his institutional responsibilities for several days to reflect on his continued leadership of the government. Since then, Gómez has maintained her innocence, whilst the president has characterised the accusations as a manoeuvre by right-wing and left-wing opposition to destabilise his administration.
The Justice Minister, Félix Bolaños, has expressed on social media X that this is "a dreadful day for those who believe in justice", trusting that "the truth will prevail". Socialist Party leaders have condemned the travel ban as excessive.
This proceeding is part of a wider context of multiple corruption scandals that have affected the Socialist leader's circle. In May, former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was likewise charged with alleged trading in influence linked to the state bail-out of the airline Plus Ultra in 2021. Separate proceedings are also pending against former minister José Luis Ábalos and David Sánchez, the brother of the current executive chief.
Source: Google News MA — Crime (fr)