Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, will stand trial on charges of influence peddling and embezzlement, after investigating judge Juan Carlos Peinado formally ordered the case to proceed to a jury trial.
The decision, announced on Monday, brings the more than two-year investigation to a close. Madrid’s provincial court had previously ruled that the case could proceed on the two charges, while dismissing allegations of corruption in business and misappropriation.
Gómez and Cristina Álvarez, an aide at the prime minister’s office who is also being investigated for embezzlement, will remain at the disposal of the court until the trial. The date has yet to be set.
What the judge alleges
Peinado’s case centres on Gómez’s professional activities at Madrid’s Complutense University, where she co-directed an academic chair.
The judge alleges that Gómez benefited from her position as the prime minister’s wife and used her influence to advance her professional career. He has also argued that Álvarez provided support to Gómez for activities unrelated to her official duties.
Gómez denies wrongdoing. Her defence argues that she did not use her relationship with Sánchez to influence university appointments or secure the creation of the chair. The prosecution has also called for the case to be dismissed, arguing that there is insufficient evidence of a crime.
A private prosecution led by the organisation Hazte Oír is seeking a 13-year prison sentence for Gómez.
Government and opposition clash
The Spanish government and the ruling Socialist Party have criticised the decision, describing the investigation as politically motivated and unfair. The government has maintained that Gómez is innocent and said it expects the jury to assess the case impartially.
The opposition People’s Party, meanwhile, has defended the judicial process and criticised Sánchez and his wife over the allegations.
The case began in April 2024 after a complaint by Manos Limpias, a Spanish organisation with links to the political right. Over the course of the investigation, Peinado examined several allegations, but the Madrid provincial court later limited the case to influence peddling and embezzlement.
Peinado is due to retire later this week, and the case will now move to the Madrid provincial court, which will appoint the judges and determine the next steps. The trial is expected to take place within several months, although it could extend into 2027.
Be First to Comment