The wife of the Spanish Prime Minister will stand trial in a corruption case: she was banned from leaving the country

A Spanish court has decided to send the case against the wife of the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Begonya Gomez, to a jury trial in a corruption case and prohibited her from leaving the country. The relevant court decision was published on June 20, reports Euronews.

Judge Juan Carlos Peinado ordered Gomez to surrender her passport and appear in court twice a month until the verdict in the case is made.

In April, Peinado officially charged Gomez with embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in business relations, and misuse of funds.

The court applied these preventive measures both to Gomez and to Cristina Alvarez — an advisor at the Moncloa Palace. The decision states that "all border checkpoints, civilian and military airports will be given appropriate instructions" to ensure enforcement of the ban on Gomez leaving the country.

The third accused in the case — entrepreneur Juan Carlos Barrabes — is not subject to these restrictions.

According to sources close to Gomez, she will appeal the preventive measures. One of the decisions she intends to challenge is the confiscation of her passport.

The court decision was made after a preliminary hearing held this week. During it, the prosecution demanded that the case be sent to a jury trial and restrictions be imposed to prevent possible flight of the accused.

A high-profile political and legal scandal

At the same time, the prosecution and defense lawyers requested the case be closed, arguing that there is insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges.

The investigation centers on the creation and management of an educational department at the Complutense University of Madrid, co-led by Gomez, as well as the possible use of state resources and personal connections to promote private interests.

The case was opened in April 2024 to verify whether Gomez used her position as Sanchez's wife for personal gain. Both she and the Prime Minister deny these accusations.

"This department served as a means of private professional development for the person under investigation," the judge wrote when bringing charges against Gomez.

The proceedings are accompanied by sharp political and legal disputes. The prosecution insists that there is enough evidence to send the case to court, while the prosecution and Gomez's defense have repeatedly questioned the investigation's course and claimed violations during its conduct.

The case was initiated based on a complaint from an anti-corruption organization linked to far-right circles. Sanchez himself calls the accusations against his wife an attempt by right-wing forces to undermine his government.

This is one of several corruption cases involving family members and former allies of the socialist leader, posing a threat to his minority government.

Despite the growing number of corruption scandals, Sanchez has rejected opposition calls to resign and announce early elections.

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