Spanish Prime Minister's Wife Charged with Corruption After Two-Year Probe

Apr 14, 2026

Begoña Gómez, wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has been formally charged with corruption, embezzlement, influence peddling, and misappropriation of funds following a two-year criminal investigation. She is accused of leveraging her relationship with the Prime Minister to secure a position directing a master's degree course in business studies at Madrid's Complutense University despite lacking relevant qualifications, and of using public resources for private interests. The complaint was filed by Manos Limpias, a far-right-linked anti-corruption group with a history of unsuccessful lawsuits against politicians. Sánchez has dismissed the charges as a politically motivated harassment campaign by right-wing opponents to undermine his coalition government, and briefly suspended public duties for five days when the investigation began. The case adds to mounting legal troubles for Sánchez's circle, as his brother David faces influence peddling charges and former transport minister José Luis Ábalos stands trial for alleged Covid-era kickbacks.

Corruption charges against Begoña Gómez

▪Begoña Gómez is accused of using her relationship to advance her private career through a position at Madrid's Complutense University.
▪Begoña Gómez was charged with embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in business dealings and misappropriation of funds.
▪Begoña Gómez is accused of using her position to secure a post at Madrid's Complutense University where she directed a master's degree course in business studies.
▪Begoña Gómez is accused of using public resources to advance private interests.
▪The judge investigating Begoña Gómez points to her lack of relevant qualifications as evidence.
▪Courts will decide whether Begoña Gómez will stand trial for the corruption charges.
▪Begoña Gómez, wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has been charged with corruption after a two-year criminal investigation.

Political context and allegations of right-wing harassment

▪The complaint against Begoña Gómez was raised by anti-corruption campaigners Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), led by Miguel Bernad who is linked to the far-right.
▪Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has dismissed the allegations against Begoña Gómez as an attempt by the right-wing to undermine his coalition.
▪Manos Limpias has presented a litany of unsuccessful lawsuits against politicians in the past.
▪Pedro Sánchez suspended public duties for five days when the investigation started to reflect on whether to remain in the job.
▪Begoña Gómez and Pedro Sánchez are currently on an official visit to China.
▪Pedro Sánchez complained of a strategy of harassment over months aimed at weakening him politically and personally targeting his wife.

Broader corruption investigations involving Sánchez's associates

▪David Sánchez, brother of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has been indicted in an investigation into alleged influence peddling tied to his hiring by a regional government.
▪José Luis Ábalos, former transport minister under Pedro Sánchez, went on trial over allegations he received kickbacks on sales of Personal Protective Equipment to the Spanish government during the Covid pandemic.