In Madrid, the investigation involving the wife of the Prime Minister of Spain continues. Judge Juan Carlos Peinado unexpectedly changed the date of testimony for Judit Alexandra González Pedraz, who holds a key position in the La Moncloa administration. Her testimony is now scheduled for Sunday, November 12, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting was initially set for midweek, but due to one lawyer’s unavailability, the judge decided to postpone the hearing.
González Pedraz, who previously headed the Department of Technical and Legal Coordination, has served as Secretary General of the Presidential Administration since March 2023. She is the latest high-ranking official to be implicated in the case involving Begoña Gómez, the Prime Minister’s wife. Investigators suspect González of possible involvement in the misuse of public funds, as she directly supervised Gómez’s advisor, Cristina Vázquez, who is also under investigation.
The judge believes that those who have held the position of Secretary General should have been aware of the Prime Minister’s wife’s private activities at a Madrid university. According to investigators, González could have prevented her subordinates from participating in these activities, but failed to do so, which became the basis for the charges.
Along with Gonzales Pedras’ questioning, hearings for three witnesses have also been rescheduled for Sunday. Among them is the former vice-rector of Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Juan Carlos Doadrio, who provided the court with correspondence related to the department headed by Gómez. Testimony will also be given by Diego de Alcázar, president of Instituto de Empresa, and Miguel Escassi, representative of Google España.
New developments in the investigation
The judge has allowed that neither Begoña Gómez nor Cristina Vasquez need to appear in person to present their passports. The police have been tasked with verifying their trips abroad to establish dates and possible overlaps in their travels.
This is not the first time Judge Peinado has scheduled hearings for the weekend. At the end of September, he summoned the prime minister’s wife and other people involved in the case for a Saturday session. However, they chose to send their lawyers instead of appearing in person.
The investigation is ongoing, and each new court decision triggers a strong public reaction. Attention to the case remains high, as it involves the highest levels of power and possible violations at the very top of the state apparatus.
