Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, appeared in court in Madrid on Wednesday, where she denied allegations that she improperly used public money by employing a personal aide, according to legal sources. The case is part of an embezzlement inquiry that has shaken Spain’s left-leaning coalition government.
The probe, ongoing for months, is one of several involving Sánchez’s relatives and former senior allies, all of which have caused political headaches for the socialist leader and added strain on his fragile coalition. ALSO READ: Spain’s Supreme Court confirms trial of country’s Attorney General will go ahead.
Judge Juan Carlos Peinado launched the investigation in April 2024 to examine whether Gómez leveraged her position as the prime minister’s spouse for personal gain.
The current focus is on Cristina Álvarez, an official based in the prime minister’s office, and whether she carried out duties for Gómez while the latter held a post at Madrid’s Complutense University.
If proven, that arrangement could ‘represent a diversion of public resources in favour of private interests’, Peinado noted in his order summoning both women to testify.
At Wednesday’s closed-door session, her fourth appearance before the judge in Madrid, Gómez spoke only through her lawyer, according to Spanish media. ALSO READ: Begoña Gómez, wife of Spanish PM, denies wrongdoing in graft investigation hearing.
According to reports, she pointed out that the spouses of previous Spanish premiers had also employed staff to help manage their agendas and security.
Gómez further insisted that Álvarez had never assisted her with private work, though she acknowledged the official had occasionally sent her messages that did not interfere with her main responsibilities.
Sánchez has rejected the accusations as a politically motivated campaign by the right aimed at destabilising his administration, which has demanded he step down.
Earlier this month he declared there were ‘judges who do politics and politicians who try to do justice’, condemning what he described as unfounded complaints from groups with far-right links. ALSO READ: Pedro Sánchez: ‘There are judges doing politics and politicians trying to do justice’.
Separate corruption cases have also drawn in prominent socialist figures, including party heavyweight Santos Cerdán, former transport minister José Luis Ábalos, and the prime minister’s younger brother, David Sánchez.
Taken together, these legal challenges deepen the difficulties faced by the minority government, which already struggles to push legislation through parliament by relying on delicate deals with small regional and separatist parties. ALSO READ: People’s Party now hit by alleged corruption scandal surrounding former finance minister.
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La esposa del presidente ha admitido que alguna vez pidió a su asesora en Moncloa algún favor personal
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— RTVE Noticias (@rtvenoticias) September 10, 2025
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