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Spanish Judge Orders Trial for PM's Wife, Confiscates Passport
🇪🇸 Spain /Crime & Justice

Spanish Judge Orders Trial for PM's Wife, Confiscates Passport

From El País · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • A Spanish judge has ordered a trial for Begoña Gómez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and confiscated her passport.
  • Gómez faces charges including influence peddling, business corruption, embezzlement, and misappropriation.
  • The judge cited alleged corruption schemes reminiscent of past absolutist regimes, a move opposed by the government.

Investigative judge Juan Carlos Peinado has ordered a trial for Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, in a highly scrutinized case. The judge also mandated the confiscation of her passport and ordered her to appear in court twice monthly, measures described as unprecedented in Spain's recent democratic history. These actions were taken at the request of popular accusers, including the ultracatholic association Hazte Oír and far-right groups like the Vox party.

Peinado has attributed four alleged offenses to Gómez: influence peddling, business corruption, embezzlement, and misappropriation. The investigation centers on two main theories: that Gómez leveraged her relationship with the prime minister to advance her professional career, and that she enlisted her advisor to assist with private work. The judge has drawn parallels to corruption schemes from the era of King Ferdinand VII, stating in a previous resolution that such conduct seems more characteristic of "absolutist regimes, fortunately, long forgotten in our State."

It is difficult to imagine a similar case, as the conduct originating from presidential palaces, like this alleged one, seems more characteristic of absolutist regimes, fortunately, long forgotten in time in our State.

— Judge Juan Carlos PeinadoIn a resolution from April, describing the alleged corruption plot.

This is not the first time Gómez's movements have been restricted. In November 2024, popular accusers sought to confiscate her passport ahead of a G-20 summit trip. At that time, Judge Peinado deemed the request unnecessary and disproportionate, noting the investigation was in its early stages and finding it unlikely Gómez would attempt to reside abroad long-term given her favorable life circumstances.

The Spanish government has publicly opposed the passport confiscation. Government spokesperson Elma Saiz stated that such a measure would be "incomprehensible." Gómez is under constant police protection and resides in the highly secured Moncloa complex.

It is a measure that would not be understood.

— Elma SaizGovernment spokesperson, commenting on the passport confiscation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El País in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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