A court in Madrid has ordered the wife of the Spanish Prime Minister, Begoña Gómez, to stand trial on charges of embezzlement, abuse of influence, corporate corruption and trademark theft.
The decision comes after a two-year investigation into her activities as a professor at a private university in Madrid, where she is suspected of using her connections with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to influence authorities and officials in decision-making.
According to Spanish media reports, including El País, Gómez was informed of the decision while on an official trip with her husband in China.
Along with him, former advisor to the prime minister's office, Cristina Álvarez, and businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés will also appear in court. The judge has ruled that if the case goes to trial, it will be examined by a popular jury, made up of ordinary citizens.
Both Gómez's defense and the prosecution have stated that the case does not constitute a criminal offense and should be dismissed. However, the court has decided to continue the investigative and judicial process.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has publicly defended his wife, stressing that she is “honest, professional and responsible.” He previously declared in parliament that his government is “clean” and that the accusations against her are not based on concrete evidence, but on “slander and political attacks.”
The investigation against Begoña Gómez began in April 2024, following a lawsuit filed by the organization "Manos Limpias", later joined by the organization "Hazte Oír", which accuses her of corruption and undue influence.
The case is expected to continue in court in the coming weeks, attracting great attention on the Spanish political scene and more broadly in the European Union.
