Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, will stand trial for influence peddling and misappropriation of funds

Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has been sent to trial for influence peddling and misappropriation of funds following an investigation into her activities at the Complutense University of Madrid. The judge did not impose any precautionary measures against her.

One of the cases concerns an official employee at the prime minister’s office whom investigators allege actually carried out private activities for Begoña Gómez while she was running a master’s program at the university. The situation could constitute the misappropriation of public funds.

The second charge concerns the alleged use of her status as the prime minister’s wife to secure sponsorships for the master’s program, an act classified as influence peddling. Gómez coordinated the program until the beginning of the 2024 academic year.

The investigation began nearly two and a half years ago, following a complaint filed by the “Clean Hands” union based on information published in the press. The judge initially upheld four charges, but following an appeal by the defense, only two remained.

The Spanish government criticized the decision, considering it arbitrary and politically motivated. Begoña Gómez and Pedro Sánchez maintain that the accusations are part of a smear campaign orchestrated by the far right and the opposition. The case forms part of a broader context of investigations into alleged corruption involving people close to the prime minister.