Wife of Spanish PM forbidden to leave country as corruption probes pile up

 

Begoña Gómez attends a hearing of the Commission of Inquiry on professorships and postgraduate programs of the Complutense University of Madrid on 13 November, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.

Eduardo Parra/Europa Press/Getty Images

“Mr. Money is a powerful gentleman,” said the 17th century Spanish poet Francisco de Quevedo.

Spain is certainly no stranger to corruption, which has claimed plenty of political careers in recent decades.

The latest in deepening jeopardy is current Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who’s led the country for nearly eight years and has become one of the few European leaders to persistently and openly criticize the Trump administration – over Gaza, the Iran war and tariffs.

During Sánchez’ time in office, Spain has become one of Europe’s most dynamic economies, despite the fragility of his ruling coalition, which includes Catalan and Basque separatist parties.

Sánchez and his left-wing Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) came to power when a huge corruption scandal engulfed the center-right People’s Party in 2018, leading it to lose a no-confidence motion.

Similar storm-clouds are now gathering around Sánchez, a canny politician known for outwitting his opponents.

On Saturday, a Spanish judge ordered his wife Begoña Gómez to stand trial for corruption, demanded she surrender her passport and banned her from leaving the country. Gómez must also report to court twice a month.

The judge, Juan Carlos Peinado, had previously charged Gómez with embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in business dealings and misappropriation of funds, alleging she exploited her marriage to advance her career at a Madrid university.

The investigation began in 2024 after an anti-corruption group – Manos Limpias, which translates to “clean hands” –- with ties to the far-right filed a complaint against Gómez, alleging influence-peddling. At the time, Sánchez withdrew from public duties for nearly a week to question whether he should remain in office.

“Today is a dreadful day for those of us who believe in justice,” Justice Minister Félix Bolaños wrote on X in response to the judge’s ruling on Saturday, adding “truth will ultimately prevail.”