Spanish PM Sanchez’ Wife Charged with Corruption

A multi-year investigation has led to formal charges against Begona Gomez, the spouse of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, according to a court ruling released late Monday. The case centers on allegations of misuse of public funds and influence peddling, with the evidence presented by Judge Juan Carlos Peinado, who has been overseeing the probe since April 2024.

Gomez faces accusations tied to her role in establishing and managing a professorship at Madrid’s Complutense University, which she co-led. The charges suggest she leveraged personal networks and public resources to support private ventures. The judge’s decision highlights “sufficient indications of criminal behavior,” though the exact nature of the misconduct remains under scrutiny.

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

Sanchez has denied the accusations, labeling them as part of a right-wing strategy to weaken his administration. His brother, David Sanchez, was recently indicted in a separate case involving alleged influence peddling in a regional governor’s hiring. Meanwhile, the prime minister’s former chief aide and ex-transport minister, Jose Luis Abalos, is currently on trial for suspected kickbacks from public contracts.

Opposition parties have demanded Sanchez’s resignation, citing the mounting evidence against his inner circle. This follows last summer’s public apology from Sanchez for corruption scandals within his Socialist Party. The latest charges add pressure to an already turbulent period for the government.