Spanish PM's Wife Faces Trial on Corruption Charges, Passport Seized

Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, is set to face trial on charges of corruption and influence peddling. An investigating judge has ordered her to surrender her passport and prohibited her from leaving the country, requiring her to report to court twice a month.

Gómez is under investigation for allegedly using her position to secure work contracts, allegations she denies. The case was brought forward by far-right political groups in Spain. This legal challenge comes amid a series of corruption investigations that have impacted Sánchez's administration.

While Sánchez himself is not named in these cases, he asserts that the proceedings are part of a campaign to remove him from power. Several close associates and allies of the prime minister, including a high-ranking Socialist Party official and a former transport minister, are also under investigation in separate cases. These involve allegations of bribery related to oil and gas contracts and the procurement of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those implicated in the other investigations also deny any wrongdoing. The ongoing legal scrutiny adds significant pressure to Sánchez's government as it navigates these complex political and judicial challenges.