A new wave of interest has swept through the Spanish capital regarding the case of the Prime Minister’s wife. Begoña Gómez, the spouse of Pedro Sánchez, has once again appeared at the courthouse to answer questions about the case that has remained in the headlines of the Spanish media for several months. This time, an additional suspicion has been added to the list, drawing even more attention to the situation.
Gómez, as reported, denied any involvement in the accusations related to misuse of public funds. She explained that she occasionally asked her assistant at the Prime Minister’s residence to relay messages on her behalf, but did so solely as a personal favor. During the hearing, Sánchez’s wife answered only her lawyer’s questions, and the entire procedure lasted just a few minutes. According to witnesses, she limited herself to three or four brief responses.
Gómez’s choice of Cristina Álvarez as her personal assistant was explained by the necessity of filling the position, as previous wives of Spanish leaders had also done. She emphasized that Álvarez was a close friend, whose responsibilities included organizing security, coordinating official events, and liaising with protocol officials. According to Gómez, her assistant’s work schedule was extremely demanding—seven days a week.
On the same day, Cristina Álvarez was also summoned to court, but she refused to testify. The arrival of Gómez was met with heightened security measures — she entered the building through the garage to avoid the crowd. About fifty members of the press and television crews gathered at the entrance to the court on Castilla Square. A few dozen meters from the building, a group of activists held a demonstration, chanting slogans and insulting Sánchez and his wife.
Gómez is under investigation on five different charges, including misuse of public funds, influence peddling, commercial corruption, and unlawful appointment to a position. Combined, these charges carry a potential sentence ranging from six months to eight years in prison.
Judge Peinado is reviewing Gómez’s activities at Complutense University of Madrid, where she held leadership roles in educational programs. Throughout the investigation, new episodes have repeatedly been added to the case, and the judge himself has faced criticism from higher judicial authorities for alleged abuse of power. The latest interrogation was already the fourth for Gómez since the start of the proceedings, prompted by the recent expansion of the charges. The legal outlook for the case remains uncertain, and its further development is drawing considerable interest from Spanish society.
