A Spanish judge has determined that Begoña Gomez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, must stand trial on corruption charges, according to a ruling issued Saturday.
Gomez faces allegations that she leveraged her position as the prime minister’s wife to steer work contracts in her favor. She has denied any wrongdoing. The legal action was originally brought forward by far-right groups.
Investigating judge Juan Carlos Peinado issued orders requiring Gomez to hand over her passport, prohibited her from leaving Spain, and mandated that she appear before the court two times each month.
This case is among several corruption investigations that are either approaching or already at the trial stage, all of which are creating political pressure for Sanchez, who is considered one of the last remaining left-leaning leaders in Europe. Sanchez himself has not been named in any of the cases and has publicly stated that the investigations are part of a coordinated effort to push him out of office.
A number of Sanchez’s close political allies are also under scrutiny. These include the Socialist party’s third-ranking official and Sanchez’s former transport minister, both of whom face allegations tied to kickbacks connected to public works, oil and gas deals, and the purchase of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. All deny any wrongdoing.
In a separate development, Spain’s High Court announced it is investigating former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on allegations that he led a network that profited by lobbying government authorities on behalf of outside clients, including the airline Plus Ultra. Zapatero has denied the allegations.
