Judge Juan Carlos Peinado of Madrid’s Court of Instruction No. 41 ordered Begoña Gómez, wife of Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to face oral proceedings on 21 September 2026. The case was referred to a popular jury, Spain’s jury-trial system, but no trial date had been set. The travel restrictions were imposed earlier, in an initial June order: Gómez’s passport was withdrawn and she was barred from leaving Spain. On 13 July, the Madrid Provincial Court lifted those measures and ended her obligation to report periodically to authorities.
The investigation began in 2024 and concerns Gómez’s activities at the Complutense University of Madrid, including her direction of the Cátedra Extraordinaria de Cambio Social Competitiva, as well as her professional relationship with businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés. The proceedings also examine work performed by Gómez’s adviser, Cristina Álvarez. The case has drawn national political attention because Gómez is married to the sitting prime minister.
Peinado’s initial June order attributed four alleged offenses to Gómez and Álvarez: influence peddling, corruption in business, misappropriation and embezzlement of public funds. After appeals, the Madrid Provincial Court narrowed the allegations next to influence peddling and embezzlement. The appellate ruling changed the scope of the case and the personal restrictions imposed on Gómez. The travel ban was no longer in force when the later oral-proceedings order was issued.
The investigation focuses on allegations linked to Gómez’s university work, her contacts with Barrabés and the role of her adviser. The alleged offenses remain accusations, not findings of guilt. In an earlier resolution, Peinado compared the alleged scheme to corruption not seen since the era of Fernando VII, a characterization that became part of the public debate surrounding the case.
The proceedings include private accusers using Spain’s popular-prosecution mechanism, which allows certain private parties to pursue criminal accusations. Hazte Oír has continued to seek a conviction, and Vox has also taken part in the proceedings. On 7 October 2026, Spain’s public prosecutor sought the acquittal of Gómez and Álvarez, arguing that the conduct under examination was not a criminal offense and that investigators had established neither an illicit economic benefit for Gómez nor resulting patrimonial damage. The public prosecutor and private accusers are so taking opposing positions.
The opening of oral proceedings marks a formal step toward trial, but the case remains in preparation: no trial date had been fixed, and the judge who will preside over the jury had not yet been selected. The procedural history also distinguishes the initial restrictions from the later appellate ruling. The passport withdrawal and travel ban were imposed in June and lifted in July, while the narrowed allegations continued toward a jury trial.
