The legal battle surrounding Begoña Gómez, wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, intensified after Judge Juan Carlos Peinado ordered her to appear at Madrid's Plaza de Castilla court on Wednesday at 18:00 to hand over her passport. On 20 June 2026, Peinado ordered oral proceedings against Gómez and imposed precautionary measures, including passport withdrawal and a ban on leaving Spain. The case concerns allegations of influence peddling and corruption in business, as well as embezzlement and misappropriation. They are linked to Gómez's dealings with businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés and activities connected to Madrid's Complutense University.
Gómez's defense team has formally challenged the passport seizure, arguing that the measure is unjustified and impractical. Her lawyers say the police officers assigned to her security would make any attempt to flee impossible. The defense is seeking to halt the passport withdrawal, travel ban and requirement that Gómez report to court every 15 days. The dispute centers on whether the restrictions are proportionate and on the grounds Peinado cited for imposing them.
The case has drawn attention for its political and legal implications. Peinado imposed the measures following requests from popular accusations led by Hazte Oír, which is seeking a 24-year prison sentence for Gómez. In 2024, the judge rejected similar requests, deeming them unnecessary and disproportionate while the investigation was at an earlier stage. The prosecution sought to dismiss the case and said it would seek acquittal if it proceeded to trial, setting its position apart from that of the private accusers.
Gómez's adviser, Cristina Álvarez, is also under investigation in the broader case and was ordered to surrender her passport. She complied before the deadline, handing it over on Monday. The investigation began in April 2024 after a complaint from Manos Limpias and was later expanded to include claims from Vox and Hazte Oír. Peinado concluded the investigation the Saturday before the order, finding sufficient grounds to send the case to trial over allegations that Gómez used her relationship with Sánchez to advance her career, allegedly with Álvarez's help. The defense maintains that the accusations lack both objective and subjective legal grounds.
Sentencing demands from the popular accusations have varied: one reported request sought 13 years in prison for Gómez and six years for Álvarez, while Hazte Oír is seeking 24 years for Gómez. The prosecution and the defenses have sought acquittal. The case has not gone to trial. In reporting roughly 28 days after the order opening oral proceedings, the matter had yet to reach the Madrid Provincial Court, and no trial judge had been selected. The expected jury would comprise nine citizens and two substitutes, with a professional judge presiding.
Businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés is also facing trial. A separate case was opened against him after the European Public Prosecutor's Office submitted documents raising concerns about a contract awarded to one of his companies. The Madrid Provincial Court has overturned several of Peinado's earlier decisions, including lifting three indictments, excluding the Air Europa bailout from the investigation and annulling a search of Barrabés's premises. Later reporting also said the court overturned two of the offenses under investigation. The defense hopes the higher court will intervene again over the latest measures.
Gómez's lawyer cannot directly appeal the order to proceed to trial, but the proceedings could be affected if the Provincial Court reverses decisions that enabled Peinado to move forward. The court has considered whether Gómez should be tried by a jury or a panel of judges. Both the defense and prosecution have opposed a jury. Gómez's legal team, led by former Socialist minister Antonio Camacho, continues to seek her acquittal, arguing that the accusations do not meet the necessary legal criteria.
Spain's judicial system allows popular accusations, enabling groups such as Hazte Oír and Manos Limpias to participate in high-profile cases. The proceedings against Gómez have highlighted divisions within the judiciary and raised questions about precautionary measures in politically sensitive cases. The CGPJ's handling of complaints concerning Peinado is separate from the criminal case. Similar tensions have arisen in other public controversies, including recent disciplinary actions in the 'Valle Salvaje' case, where a public punishment sparked debate over judicial conduct.
The next steps depend on decisions by the Madrid Provincial Court, which has already overturned several of the lower court's actions. The case remains unresolved on the merits, and its outcome could affect Spain's political field and the balance of power within its legal institutions.
