MADRID – A prosecutor in Spain has formally requested that a judge dismiss corruption charges against Begoña Gomez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, according to court documents released Wednesday.
The legal action represents the most significant judicial threat confronting the Socialist leader and his family members. Sanchez’s brother David is scheduled to face trial next month on separate allegations of influence peddling.
Gomez has consistently maintained her innocence throughout the proceedings.
The prime minister briefly contemplated stepping down in April 2024 when investigating judge Juan Carlos Peinado launched the inquiry into his wife’s activities. Sanchez has publicly stood by his family members, characterizing the legal challenges as politically motivated attacks orchestrated by far-right opposition groups.
Judge Peinado now faces the decision of whether to honor the prosecutor’s dismissal request or proceed with a jury trial in another court. Should the case move forward, the prosecutor indicated they would argue for Gomez’s acquittal during trial proceedings.
The accusations against Gomez originate from far-right political party Vox and multiple conservative advocacy organizations, including Hazte Oir. Court filings submitted this week and reviewed by Reuters show these groups are pursuing a maximum prison term of 24 years for the prime minister’s wife.
The probe focuses on allegations that Gomez leveraged her status as the prime minister’s spouse to obtain corporate sponsors for a university master’s degree program under her direction, potentially circumventing required public procurement procedures.
The formal charges against Gomez and her assistant at the prime minister’s official residence include influence peddling, private sector corruption, misappropriation of funds, and improper use of public resources.
In his most recent court ruling, Judge Peinado, who is approaching retirement, characterized Gomez’s alleged actions as behavior more appropriate for an “absolute monarchy” rather than a contemporary constitutional democracy.
