The Audiencia Provincial de Madrid has sent Begoña Gómez, wife of Spain’s Prime Minister, to trial for influence peddling and embezzlement. The PSOE calls the case political. The PP insists the judiciary is working as it should.
The Audiencia Provincial de Madrid has ruled that Begoña Gómez, wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, will face trial before a jury on charges of influence peddling and embezzlement. The decision, which comes after two years of investigation led by Judge Juan Carlos Peinado, has triggered a sharp political dispute. The court dropped additional charges of business corruption and misappropriation, but confirmed the main accusations, while also lifting all personal precautionary measures against Gómez. She will regain her passport, is no longer barred from leaving Spain, and is not required to report to court biweekly.
The government and the PSOE have strongly defended Gómez’s innocence, describing the case as a politically motivated process rooted in false allegations and media reports. In a statement on X, the PSOE insisted that the proceedings are designed to harass and persecute the Prime Minister’s wife. Government sources argue that anyone familiar with the case’s details would recognize its political nature.
Opposition parties, particularly the PP, have seized on the court’s decision to criticize the government. The PP released a statement highlighting that a higher court has upheld some of the investigating judge’s measures, arguing this demonstrates the proper functioning of the judiciary. The party accused the government of only supporting judicial independence when rulings are in its favor, echoing recent comments by Alberto Núñez Feijóo about leaders who accept verdicts only when they suit their interests. PP spokespersons also pointed to the recent conviction of David Sánchez, the Prime Minister’s brother, for administrative misconduct, claiming corruption is entrenched in Sánchez’s family environment.
Sumar, the government’s junior coalition partner, has also weighed in, calling the decision to proceed with a jury trial “nonsensical.” Sumar sources argue that unelected powers are acting to inflict maximum damage on the Prime Minister’s circle, especially as two of the original charges have been dropped. They describe the entire investigation as a series of missteps and see the process as fundamentally flawed.
The timing of the court’s announcement has drawn attention, coming just two days after David Sánchez was banned from public office for nine years by the Audiencia Provincial de Badajoz. That ruling, however, did not find evidence of who initiated the job creation that led to the charges, resulting in David Sánchez’s acquittal on influence peddling. The controversy around judicial independence and political pressure has been a recurring theme in Spain, as highlighted in recent months by high-profile cases and public warnings from judicial figures. For further context on the ongoing debate over political influence in Spain’s judiciary, see this analysis of recent tensions: former Supreme Court president’s warning about political pressure on judges.
According to the latest available data from the General Council of the Judiciary, 92% of jury trials in Spain in 2016 resulted in convictions, with only 16 acquittals out of 209 cases. This statistic underscores the high stakes for Gómez as her case moves forward. The outcome will be closely watched, not only for its legal implications but also for its potential impact on Spain’s political landscape and the ongoing debate over the separation of powers.
