A judge who has spent two years investigating Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, over alleged corruption made a renewed effort to bring her case before a jury on Wednesday.
The inquiry, led by Judge Juan Carlos Peinado, forms part of a series of corruption-related cases involving individuals close to the socialist (PSOE) leader, raising fresh questions over the stability of his minority coalition government.
Peinado first launched the investigation in April 2024 to examine whether Gómez may have used her position as the prime minister’s wife for personal gain – an accusation both she and Sánchez have consistently denied. ALSO READ: Begoña Gómez, wife of Spain’s PM, denies embezzlement in new court hearing.
Earlier this year, in February, an attempt by the judge to send Gómez to trial on charges of public embezzlement tied to the hiring of an assistant – who is also under investigation – was overturned on appeal.
At the time, the Madrid court ruled that the move was ‘premature and lacks factual, legal and procedural grounding’, and instructed that the case return to the preliminary investigation phase. ALSO READ: Spain court halts ‘premature’ jury trial for PM’s wife, yet keeps investigation open.
On Wednesday, however, Peinado notified the parties of a revised request to proceed with a jury trial, now citing alleged embezzlement, influence peddling and corruption.
Gómez did not attend the court hearing in Madrid, exercising her right not to appear. She was instead represented by her legal team, who once again called for the case to be dismissed, the source added.
Sánchez has repeatedly rejected the allegations against his wife, portraying them as part of a politically motivated campaign by the right aimed at weakening his administration, which has called for his resignation. ALSO READ: Pedro Sánchez: ‘There are judges doing politics and politicians trying to do justice’.
The pressure on the government is compounded by other ongoing cases: Sánchez’s brother, David Sánchez, and former close ally and ex-transport minister José Luis Ábalos are both set to stand trial in separate corruption proceedings. ALSO READ: Trial of Spanish PM’s brother for alleged corruption postponed until late May.
These legal challenges add to the difficulties facing Sánchez’s minority coalition government, which relies on protracted negotiations with a patchwork of smaller parties and regional separatist groups to push legislation through parliament. ALSO READ: Spain’s main opposition party claims the ruling socialists are in ‘irreversible decline’.
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