Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, will stand trial over alleged influence peddling and embezzlement of public funds in Madrid.
Judge Juan Carlos Peinado announced the ruling on Monday after rejecting arguments from the defense that called for the case to be dismissed. The trial will be heard by a popular jury at the Provincial Court of Madrid, bringing an end to a controversial judicial investigation that lasted more than two years.
The proceedings against Gómez focus on her role directing a master's chair program at the Complutense University of Madrid, a public research university in the Spanish capital. The Provincial Court of Madrid previously limited the scope of the case to the two charges of influence peddling and embezzlement, while archiving other corruption allegations that investigators had initially considered. The court also ordered the lifting of precautionary measures that had been imposed during the investigation.
Cristina Álvarez, an adviser to Gómez, will also stand trial in connection with the case. Álvarez faces a single charge of alleged embezzlement of public funds.
Legal arguments and proposed sentences
Defense lawyers and public prosecutors maintain that there is no evidence to justify trial proceedings against either woman. Both defense counsel and the prosecution office have requested full acquittals for Gómez and Álvarez.
However, the popular prosecution, a legal mechanism under Spanish law led in this case by the conservative advocacy association Hazte Oír, pushed for the trial to proceed. Hazte Oír is seeking a 13-year prison sentence for Gómez and a six-year prison sentence for Álvarez.
Neither defendant faces new precautionary measures or bail conditions ahead of the trial. However, Judge Peinado ruled that both women must remain at the disposal of the court system and officially notify authorities of any change of residence.
Political fallout and judge's retirement
The ruling triggered strong political pushback from Spain's governing party, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. The party strongly condemned the magistrate's decision, reiterating its stance on Gómez's innocence and describing the prosecution as political harassment motivated entirely by her marriage to Sánchez, who has served as Prime Minister since 2018.
Rebeca Torró, the organizational secretary of the party, mocked the ruling by describing it as Judge Peinado's final service to the country prior to his departure from the bench. Judge Peinado is scheduled to retire at the end of September, after which the Provincial Court of Madrid will determine the official start date for the jury trial.
Border alert in Ceuta
In a separate development reported by Spanish authorities, border security has been heightened in Ceuta following social media calls encouraging a mass border crossing on Wednesday. Ceuta is a Spanish autonomous city located on the North African coast bordering Morocco.
The planned border action coincides with legislative elections taking place in Morocco. Spanish officials confirmed that border surveillance has been reinforced to prevent illegal entry attempts and maintain security during the Moroccan electoral period. The Spanish Embassy in Rabat, Morocco's capital, has launched an informational campaign aimed at stopping the social media mobilization.
The border alert comes amid ongoing challenges in the North African territory, where clashes recently broke out at the port of Ceuta over the arrival of members from a pro-housing group, and where at least 700 unaccompanied minors currently remain on the city streets.
