Begoña Gómez, wife of Pedro Sánchez, summoned to trial for 5 corruption charges: influence peddling, embezzlement, bribery, money laundering, and organized crime
The investigating judge of Madrid's Court of Instruction Number 41 has issued an order for the opening of oral proceedings against Begoña Gómez, wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, for five serious crimes: influence peddling, embezzlement of public funds, bribery, money laundering, and membership in a criminal organization. The decision comes after the investigation of the case initiated by a complaint from Manos Limpias (Clean Hands) and supported by Vox, with evidence of her taking advantage of her position to benefit private companies in exchange for contracts and public favors. The trial is expected to take place in 2026 and could involve sentences of up to 15 years in prison.
- The investigating judge of the Court of Instruction number 41 of Madrid has issued an order for the opening of oral proceedings against Begoña Gómez Fernández, wife of the Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, for five serious crimes: influence peddling, embezzlement of public funds, bribery, and money laundering. and membership in a criminal organization. The ruling marks the end of the preliminary investigation phase and the beginning of the criminal proceedings, which are expected to take place in 2026 before the Provincial Court of Madrid.
- The case, initiated by a complaint from the organization Manos Limpias (Clean Hands) and accepted for processing by Judge Juan Carlos Peinado, focuses on the alleged abuse of Begoña Gómez's institutional position—as director of the Master's Program in Business Administration and director of the Extraordinary Chair of Competitive Social Transformation at the Complutense University of Madrid—to favor private companies with which she had a relationship.
- Among the investigated facts are: Letters of recommendation and lobbying of public bodies to benefit companies such as Globalia (Air Europa), Barrabés, and other companies linked to public bailouts during the pandemic. Meetings and contacts with executives of these companies that coincided with the awarding of multimillion-euro public funds. Possible channeling of European funds and public contracts through a network of influence that allegedly includes her husband and other government officials. Use of shell companies and opaque accounts to launder or divert profits obtained.
- The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, initially reluctant to bring charges, partially joined the case after the presentation of evidence that includes emails, diaries, statements from protected witnesses, and financial expert reports. The Public Prosecutor's Office is now requesting sentences that could exceed 15 years in prison in total. The Government and the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) have described the decision as "lawfare" and "political persecution" orchestrated by the right and far right. Pedro Sánchez will hold a press conference this Friday to defend his wife and announce possible institutional response measures.
- Sources at Moncloa Palace (the Prime Minister's residence) maintain that "there is no solid evidence" and that this is "a witch hunt against the president's family." The opposition (PP and Vox) is demanding Sánchez's immediate resignation or, failing that, his urgent appearance before Congress. Santiago Abascal (Vox) declared that “corruption has reached the heart of Moncloa” and that “Spain cannot have a president whose closest associates are in the dock for corruption.” The case has generated strong polarization: while progressive sectors see it as a judicial attack against the government, citizens consulted in independent polls largely express disbelief at the “lawfare” theory and demand total transparency. The trial will be one of the most high-profile cases in recent Spanish history and could have devastating political consequences for the PSOE and the governing coalition.
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