Spanish PM's Wife, Begoña Gomez, to Face Trial on Corruption Charges

A Spanish judge has ruled that Begoña Gomez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, must face trial on corruption charges. Presiding judge Juan Carlos Peinado has also issued an order preventing Gomez from leaving Spain and requiring her to report to court bi-monthly.

Gomez is currently under investigation for allegedly leveraging her position as the Prime Minister’s wife to unfairly secure lucrative work contracts. She has consistently denied any wrongdoing. This case was initiated by far-right political groups.

This legal challenge comes as several corruption probes surrounding individuals close to Sanchez are nearing or have already reached the trial stage. The Prime Minister, who is among Europe’s prominent leftist leaders, has not been implicated in any of these cases. Sanchez has asserted that these investigations are part of a concerted effort to oust him from office.

Previously, prominent allies, including a high-ranking official within the Socialist party and Sanchez’s former transport minister, have faced scrutiny in separate cases involving alleged kickbacks tied to public works, energy contracts, and the procurement of medical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. These individuals also deny the accusations leveled against them.

In a related development, Spain’s High Court is reportedly investigating former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. The allegations suggest he led a network that profited from lobbying public authorities on behalf of third parties, including the airline Plus Ultra. Zapatero has denied these claims.

Source: monitor.co.ug