Spanish PM’s wife Begona Gomez charged with corruption

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s wife, Begona Gomez, has been formally charged with corruption after a years-long criminal investigation, according to a court ruling published Monday.

The probe is one of several corruption cases that have embroiled the Socialist leader’s family and former allies, putting pressure on his minority coalition government.

Judge Juan Carlos Peinado opened the investigation in April 2024 to determine whether Ms Gomez had exploited her position as Mr Sanchez’s wife for private gain, which she and the PM deny.

The case centres on the creation and management of a chair at Madrid’s Complutense University that was co-directed by Gomez, as well as the alleged use of public resources and personal connections to advance private interests.

Judge Peinado said his investigation had found sufficient indications of criminal conduct by Ms Gomez, 55, according to a ruling dated April 11 that was made public on Monday.

He formally charged Ms Gomez with embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in business dealings and misappropriation of funds, the ruling added.

“The chair served as a means of private professional development for the person under investigation,” the judge wrote.

The BBC reports she is accused of using her position to secure a post at the prestigious university where she directed a masters course in business. The judge points to Gomez’s lack of relevant qualifications as evidence.

It is now up to the courts to decide whether Gómez will stand trial.

Ms Gomez, who is on an official visit to China with Mr Sanchez, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Sanchez has dismissed the allegations against his wife as an attempt by the right wing to undermine his government. Opposition parties have called for his resignation.

The case originated from a complaint filed by anti-corruption group Manos Limpias (Clean Hands) which has far-right ties.

Mr Sanchez suspended public duties for five days and threatened to quit his post when the investigation was launched in 2024.

“I’m not all embarrassed to say that I’m a man who’s deeply in love with his wife and who has to live with the helplessness of seeing all the mud that’s slung at her every single day,” he said at the time.

The Prime Minister’s brother, David Sanchez, has also been indicted in a separate investigation into alleged influence peddling tied to his hiring by a regional government.

Sanchez’s former right-hand man and former transport minister, Jose Luis Abalos, went on trial this month over alleged kickbacks linked to public contracts.

Mr Abalos and his former adviser Koldo Garcia are suspected of having pocketed kickbacks for handing out public contracts worth millions of euros for sanitary equipment during the COVID pandemic.

The Supreme Court in Madrid is judge them for alleged bribery, embezzlement, influence peddling, membership of a criminal organisation and misuse of confidential information.

Prosecutors want Mr Abalos to serve 24 years in jail. They portray him as the mastermind of a scheme of illicit enrichment. They have called for a 19-year term for Mr Garcia, who they say was a key intermediary.

They argued in court that both men had abused their government positions and contacts to favour the interests of businessman Victor de Aldama, who has already admitted his role in the vast and complex affair.

Abalos has consistently protested that the investigation has been unfair.

“I feel like I am living in a fiction,” he told the conservative daily El Mundo in November, shortly before his arrest. “I cannot believe the prosecutor’s office is asking for 24 years in jail for me.”