A Spanish court has ordered Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's wife, Begoña Gómez, to surrender her passport and barred her from leaving the country while she prepares to stand trial on corruption-related charges.
The decision, issued by Madrid investigating judge Juan Carlos Peinado, marks the most serious development yet in a two-year legal saga that has become one of the biggest challenges to Sánchez's government.
The judge ruled that Gómez must face a jury trial on allegations including influence peddling, corruption in business dealings, embezzlement, and misappropriation of public funds. Gómez has denied all wrongdoing and is appealing the measures.
Under the court order, Gómez must surrender her passport, is prohibited from leaving Spain, and must report regularly to judicial authorities while the case proceeds. Judge Peinado justified the restrictions by citing a potential flight risk, a claim that has sparked fierce criticism from the Spanish government and judicial observers.
The case centers on accusations that Gómez used her position as the wife of the prime minister to advance professional and business interests linked to her work at Madrid's Complutense University and relationships with private companies that later received government contracts or public support.
Accusers allege she improperly benefited from her access to political power, while Gómez's legal team argues there is no evidence she influenced public procurement decisions. The investigation began in 2024 following a complaint filed by Manos Limpias, a pressure group that describes itself as an anti-corruption organization but has frequently been accused by critics of pursuing politically motivated cases. The complaint triggered a judicial inquiry that expanded over time to include several alleged offenses.
Sánchez and his Socialist Workers' Party have consistently portrayed the proceedings as a politically motivated campaign orchestrated by right-wing and far-right groups seeking to destabilize his government.
The prime minister has repeatedly defended his wife and insisted there is no evidence of criminal conduct. Government officials have described the investigation as an abuse of judicial processes and have questioned several of Judge Peinado's decisions.
The controversy intensified further this week when Spain's judicial oversight body moved to open disciplinary proceedings against Peinado after he suggested that police officers assigned to protect Gómez could potentially assist her in fleeing the country. The comments drew condemnation from police unions and government officials, who called them inappropriate and unsupported by evidence.
The case against Gómez comes as Sánchez's administration faces multiple corruption-related investigations involving people in his political orbit. Separate inquiries have examined allegations involving former ministers, senior Socialist Party officials, and even members of Sánchez's family.
Political tensions are expected to rise further in the coming days as Sánchez addresses parliament amid mounting scrutiny over the various investigations surrounding his administration. No trial date has yet been announced.
