A Spanish court has formally charged Begoña Gómez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, with corruption following a years-long criminal investigation, according to reports from France24 and the BBC.
The charges, which include embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in business dealings, and misappropriation of funds, stem from a probe opened by Judge Juan Carlos Peinado in April 2024. The investigation examines whether Gómez used her position to secure private advantages.
According to the BBC, prosecutors allege Gómez used her relationship with the Prime Minister to advance her career at Madrid's Complutense University. Specifically, the court is looking into her role directing a master's degree course in business studies, noting a lack of relevant qualifications as evidence of potential misconduct.
Political fallout and ongoing investigations
Gómez and Sánchez are currently on an official visit to China when the court ruling was published on Monday. Both individuals deny the allegations of using public resources for private interests.
Sánchez has previously dismissed the accusations as a political tactic by the right-wing to undermine his coalition government. During the initial stages of the probe, the Prime Minister suspended public duties for five days to "stop and reflect" on his leadership. He described the situation as "the mud" that the right and far-right were attempting to drag politics into.
Sánchez also complained of a "strategy of harassment" aimed at weakening him politically by targeting his wife personally. The initial complaint was brought by the anti-corruption group Manos Limpias, led by Miguel Bernad, a figure linked to the far-right.
This legal development follows other recent scandals involving the Prime Minister's circle. The BBC reports that Sánchez’s brother, David Sánchez, has been indicted in an investigation into alleged influence peddling regarding his hiring by a regional government. Additionally, the former transport minister, José Luis Ábalos, recently went on trial over alleged kickbacks related to pandemic-era PPE sales.
