Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, is facing renewed political pressure after his wife, Begoña Gómez, was formally charged with corruption following a two-year judicial investigation, according to a court decision.
The allegations centre on claims that Gómez used her proximity to the prime minister to advance her professional activities through a role at Complutense University of Madrid.
She is also accused of benefiting from public resources for private gain.
According to the ruling, she faces charges including embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in business transactions, and misappropriation of public funds.
The court will now determine whether the case proceeds to trial.
Gómez has denied any wrongdoing, while Sánchez has rejected the accusations, describing them as politically motivated efforts by the right wing to destabilise his coalition government.
The inquiry was launched in April 2024 by Judge Juan Carlos Peinado to assess whether the prime minister’s wife improperly used her position for personal benefit.
Investigators argue that her appointment to oversee a master’s programme in business studies at the university raises concerns, pointing to her alleged lack of relevant academic qualifications.
The case was triggered by a complaint from anti-corruption group Manos Limpias, led by Miguel Bernad, an activist with links to far-right circles.
The organisation has previously filed several lawsuits against political figures, many of which were unsuccessful.
At the beginning of the investigation, Sánchez briefly stepped back from official duties for five days to “stop and reflect” on whether to remain in office, amid what he described as “the mud” surrounding the case.
He later accused political opponents of waging a “strategy of harassment” aimed at weakening him personally and politically through attacks on his wife.
Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Gómez and Sánchez are currently undertaking an official visit to China.
In a related development, Sánchez’s brother, David Sánchez, has been indicted in a separate case involving alleged influence peddling linked to his recruitment by a regional administration.
Separately, former transport minister José Luis Ábalos is currently on trial over accusations that he received kickbacks connected to government purchases of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
