Spain’s public prosecutor’s office urges dismissal of case against PM’s wife

The investigation involving Gómez represents the most significant legal challenge to the socialist (PSOE) prime minister and his family to date. Gómez has consistently denied any wrongdoing. ALSO READ: Begoña Gómez, wife of Spain’s PM, denies embezzlement in new court hearing.

Separately, Sánchez’s brother, David Sánchez, is scheduled to face trial in May over allegations of influence peddling. ALSO READ: Trial of Spanish PM’s brother for alleged corruption postponed until late May.

Sánchez briefly weighed stepping down in April 2024 after investigating judge Juan Carlos Peinado opened the inquiry. The prime minister has since defended his family publicly, arguing the cases are politically driven and pushed by far-right adversaries. ALSO READ: Pedro Sánchez: ‘There are judges doing politics and politicians trying to do justice’.

Peinado must now decide whether to accept the prosecutor’s recommendation to close the case or to move forward with a jury trial in another court. If proceedings continue, the prosecutor has said he would seek Gómez’s acquittal during the trial, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

The accusations against Gómez are supported by the far-right party Vox and several conservative advocacy groups, including the catholic association Hazte Oír. In a legal submission filed this week and reported by Spanish media, they called for a prison term of up to 24 years.

At the heart of the investigation is whether Gómez leveraged her role as the prime minister’s spouse to obtain corporate sponsorships for a university master’s programme she directed, allegedly sidestepping standard public tender procedures.

Gómez and an aide based at the prime minister’s official residence face accusations of influence peddling, corruption in private business dealings, misappropriation and misuse of public funds. ALSO READ: Spain court halts ‘premature’ jury trial for PM’s wife, yet keeps investigation open.

In his most recent ruling, Peinado — who is approaching retirement — said the alleged conduct attributed to Gómez was more characteristic of an ‘absolute monarchy’ than of a modern constitutional democracy.