Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 22, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 23, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleA Spanish prosecutor has urged Judge Juan Carlos Peinado to dismiss the corruption investigation into Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, citing lack of objective evidence for alleged crimes including influence‑peddling, embezzlement, corruption in business and misappropriation.
MADRID, April 22 (Reuters) - A Spanish prosecutor has asked a judge to close a corruption investigation into the business dealings of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's wife, in a case brought by far‑right groups seeking a jail sentence of as much as 24 years.
The case against Begoña Gomez is the most serious legal challenge faced by the Socialist leader and his family. Sanchez's brother, David, is due to stand trial in May in a separate case over alleged influence peddling.
Gomez has denied any wrongdoing.
Sanchez briefly considered resigning in April 2024 after investigating judge Juan Carlos Peinado opened the probe into Gomez. He has publicly defended his family, saying the cases are politically motivated and driven by far-right opponents.
Peinado must decide whether to accept the prosecutor's request or order a trial before a jury in a different court. If he allows proceedings to continue, the prosecutor will seek her acquittal during the trial, the prosecutor said in a statement on Wednesday.
The charges against Gomez are backed by far-right party Vox and several right-wing pressure groups, including Hazte Oir. In a legal filing submitted this week and seen by Reuters, they asked for a prison sentence of up to 24 years for Gomez.
The investigation centres on whether Gomez used her position as the prime minister's wife to secure sponsors for a university master's degree programme she directed, allegedly bypassing a public bidding process.
Gomez and her aide at the prime minister's official residence are accused of influence peddling, corruption in private business, misappropriation and misuse of public funds.
Peinado, who is nearing retirement, described Gomez's alleged conduct in his last ruling as more befitting of an "absolute monarchy" than that of a modern constitutional democracy.
(Reporting by Emma Pinedo; Editing by David Latona, Charlie Devereux, William Maclean)
Begoña Gomez was investigated for allegedly using her position to secure sponsors for a university master's program, bypassing public bidding.
A Spanish prosecutor has asked the judge to close the corruption probe into Begoña Gomez's business dealings.
Far-right party Vox and other right-wing groups filed the case and demanded up to 24 years in prison for Begoña Gomez.
Judge Juan Carlos Peinado must decide whether to accept the prosecutor's request or move the case to a trial before a jury.
Yes, Begoña Gomez has denied any wrongdoing related to the accusations of corruption and influence peddling.
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