Madrid’s public prosecutor has asked Court No. 41 to acquit Begoña Gómez, saying the evidence shows neither personal gain nor financial harm to Universidad Complutense. The university chair at the center of the case was created and operated within the rules, the prosecutor says. The facts do not constitute a crime or give rise to civil liability, information from the prosecutor’s office.
The chair was agreed at a pandemic-era meeting in La Moncloa with the rector and later approved by the vice-rector under normal procedures. The prosecutor found that every step followed legal and university protocols. The record showed no irregularities, pressure or favors. The chair’s software platform cost €113,000, but neither Gómez nor her Moncloa adviser, Cristina Álvarez, made money from it. The prosecutor’s position has not changed since the case began: the office has opposed moving it forward and sees no grounds for charges of influence peddling or misuse of public funds.
On July 13, the Madrid Provincial Court removed entrepreneur Juan Carlos Barrabés from the proceedings and dropped commercial corruption charges against all parties. The case was narrowed to episodes of alleged influence peddling and possible misappropriation.
Investigators also examined a company Gómez founded under the same name as the university chair. The prosecutor found that it barely operated and brought in less than €7,000, with no indication it was used for profit. Gómez gave away the digital tool she promoted. The case began after Manos Limpias filed a complaint in April 2024, focusing on the chair co-led by Gómez and Álvarez. Álvarez worked in the prime minister’s office and was paid from public funds.
The prosecutor’s findings did not support allegations that Álvarez misused public money for private work. She performed only occasional tasks, all within her official duties as a civil servant. La Sexta reported that the prosecutor also noted Complutense University had never asked for the software to be returned or transferred. The prosecutor said this showed the university had suffered no harm.
If the court disagrees, the prosecutor says the only amount that could be recovered is the €113,000 spent on the technology platform. The prosecutor maintains that the evidence does not show Gómez or Álvarez broke the law.
Judge Juan Carlos Peinado has referred Gómez and Álvarez to a jury trial, expected to take place next year. The prosecutor’s request for acquittal does not automatically end the case; the jury will make the final decision after reviewing the evidence. The Audiencia de Madrid must appoint a presiding judge and set a date for the trial. The case comes amid increased scrutiny of public figures and calls for transparency. Spanish courts have previously handled high-profile cases involving government officials and crisis management, as reported earlier.
