Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's wife, Begoña Gómez, has been formally charged with corruption following a two-year criminal investigation, according to a court ruling. The charges allege that Gómez exploited her position as the spouse of the nation's leader to advance her private career and personal interests through improper means.
The specific accusations include embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in business dealings, and misappropriation of public funds. The court documents state that Gómez allegedly used her influence to secure a position at Madrid's Complutense University, where she directed a master's degree course in business studies, despite reportedly lacking the relevant qualifications for such a role.
Gómez has denied all charges, while Prime Minister Sánchez has dismissed the allegations as a politically motivated attempt by right-wing forces to undermine his coalition government. The investigation was opened by Judge Juan Carlos Peinado in April 2024 to examine whether Gómez had improperly benefited from her marital connection to the prime minister.
The complaint against Gómez was filed by the anti-corruption group Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), led by Miguel Bernad, who has links to far-right circles. This organization has a history of filing numerous unsuccessful lawsuits against politicians, raising questions about the credibility and timing of the current charges amid Spain's volatile political climate.
When the investigation commenced, Prime Minister Sánchez temporarily suspended his public duties for five days to 'stop and reflect' on whether to remain in office, citing what he described as 'the mud' that right-wing and far-right elements were allegedly dragging into Spanish politics. He further complained of a 'strategy of harassment' over recent months aimed at weakening him politically and personally targeting his wife.
Currently, Gómez and Sánchez are on an official visit to China. In a separate but related development, the prime minister's brother, David Sánchez, has been indicted in an investigation into alleged influence peddling connected to his hiring by a regional government. Additionally, earlier this month, former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos went on trial over accusations of receiving kickbacks from sales of Personal Protective Equipment to the Spanish government during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting broader corruption concerns within the administration.
Source: www.bbc.com