Court Orders Spanish Prime Minister's Wife to Surrender Passport, Bans Travel

A Spanish judge has ordered Begoña Gómez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to surrender her passport and prohibited her from leaving the country as part of an ongoing investigation. The court's decision mandates that Gómez must appear in court twice a month until a verdict is reached.

Judge Juan Carlos Peinado issued instructions to all border control points, as well as civil and military airports, to ensure Gómez complies with the travel ban. The investigation, initiated in April 2024, aims to determine if Gómez exploited her status as the Prime Minister's wife to gain private benefits. Both Gómez and Sánchez have denied these allegations.

The core of the investigation revolves around Gómez's establishment and leadership of a "chair" at Madrid's Complutense University and her alleged use of state resources and personal connections to advance private interests. In April, Judge Peinado formally charged Gómez with offenses including embezzlement, abuse of influence, and corruption in business dealings.

The case stems from a complaint filed by the anti-corruption organization "Hazte Oir." Meanwhile, Sánchez's brother, David Sánchez, is facing a separate investigation for alleged influence peddling related to his hiring by a socialist-led provincial council in Badajoz.