In a development that places the government of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez before one of its most difficult political tests, investigating judge Juan Carlos Peinado issued an order on Saturday requiring Begoña Gómez, Sánchez's wife, to appear in court to face charges of corruption and influence peddling. The order includes strict precautionary measures: the confiscation of her passport, a ban on leaving Spanish territory, and a requirement to appear before the court twice a month.
The judiciary suspects that Gómez exploited her position as the prime minister's wife to secure work contracts for private parties — allegations she categorically denies. The case, originally brought by groups close to the far right and opposed to Sánchez's Socialist Party, has gradually moved from the preliminary investigation stage to an actual trial, in a legal process that has lasted nearly 2 years and has sparked widespread debate over its possible political motivations.
Immediate political fallout
The ruling triggered sharp political reverberations inside Spain. The ruling Socialist Party swiftly described events as "an absolute disgrace against democracy," stating in a post on X that Gómez "has been subjected to arbitrary judicial and political persecution for 2 years." The government maintained that the timing and context of the ruling fit within an organised campaign aimed at destabilising Sánchez's rule. The opposition People's Party, by contrast, welcomed the ruling and called for greater transparency and accountability.
According to sources close to Gómez cited by the Spanish newspaper El País, she intends to appeal the judge's decisions, including the confiscation of her passport — a move indicating that the legal battle is still far from resolved.
A broader corruption file
The Gómez case does not exist in isolation; it joins a series of investigations that have increasingly weighed on Sánchez's government, one of the few remaining left-wing administrations in Europe. Several of his closest allies — including the third-ranking figure in the Socialist Party and a former transport minister — are subject to separate investigations into allegations of accepting bribes linked to public works contracts, oil and gas deals, and the procurement of medical masks during the Covid-19 pandemic. All deny any wrongdoing.
In a parallel development deepening the crisis, Spain's Supreme Court revealed that it is also investigating former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero on allegations that he led a network that profited from lobbying public authorities on behalf of third parties, among them the airline Plus Ultra, which received government support during the pandemic. Zapatero has also denied the allegations.
Concerns are mounting that the accumulation of these corruption files could undermine Sánchez's ability to govern steadily, at a time when markets and investors are watching for signs of stability in the Spanish political landscape — particularly as electoral deadlines loom that could be brought forward under the pressure of escalating judicial proceedings. The question being asked is whether the Socialist government will withstand this relentless judicial momentum, or whether the country is heading into a period of political uncertainty that would in turn affect the business and investment environment.