**Spanish PM’s Wife to Stand Trial on Corruption Charges**
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s wife, Begona Gomez, is set to face trial before a jury on multiple corruption-related charges, as reported by EFE news agency. This decision follows a ruling from an investigating judge after preliminary hearings that took place earlier this week.
Gomez, who is 55 years old and serves as a university director, was formally charged in April with serious offenses including embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in business dealings, and misappropriation of funds. The prosecution has indicated that they are seeking a substantial prison sentence of 24 years for Gomez. In the meantime, she has been ordered to surrender her passport and is required to appear in court twice a month as the legal proceedings unfold.
In addition to Gomez, her adviser, Cristina Alvarez, who faces similar allegations, and businessman Juan Carlos Barrabes will also be tried in connection with the case.
The investigation into Gomez was initiated in 2024 following a complaint from the anti-corruption group Manos Limpias, which has been associated with Spain’s far-right political factions. The complaint alleged that Gomez leveraged her position as the Prime Minister’s spouse to influence government contracts awarded to a consortium of technology companies.
As the investigation progressed, further allegations emerged, claiming that Gomez misappropriated public funds in hiring a consultant and improperly utilized software while co-directing an academic chair at Madrid’s Complutense University.
Gomez's legal representatives have denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the charges are politically motivated. They argue that the proceedings are an attempt to undermine her and her family’s reputation.
Prime Minister Sanchez, the leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, has not been implicated in the case. However, the unfolding investigation has prompted him to temporarily suspend public engagements, during which he expressed consideration of stepping down from his position. He characterized the situation as a campaign of political and personal harassment directed at his family. Ultimately, Sanchez decided to remain in office and continue his role in government.
This case is not the first instance of political figures in Spain facing corruption allegations. Former Prime Minister Jose Zapatero was also recently embroiled in a corruption investigation concerning the alleged misuse of €53 million in state aid granted to Plus Ultra airline in 2021. Earlier this week, a court denied prosecutors' request for precautionary measures against Zapatero, which included the surrender of his passport and a travel ban.
As the trial of Begona Gomez approaches, it will be closely monitored, both for its implications on Spanish politics and its potential impact on public perception of the current government.