A Spanish judge has ordered Begoña Gómez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to stand trial on corruption charges and barred her from leaving the country, intensifying pressure on a minority government facing several investigations involving Socialist figures and allies.

Judge Juan Carlos Peinado ordered Gómez to surrender her passport and report to court twice monthly.
She faces charges of embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in business dealings and misappropriation of funds, over allegations that she used her marriage to advance her career at a Madrid university.
Both she and Sánchez deny wrongdoing; he calls the case politically motivated and an “obscene farce”.

The investigation began in 2024 following a complaint from Manos Limpias, an anti-corruption group with far-right ties.
Sánchez then withdrew from public duties for nearly a week to consider his future.

The restrictions imposed on Saturday drew objections.
Justice Minister Félix Bolaños said “truth will ultimately prevail”, while El País accused the investigation of disproportionate measures, courting publicity and lacking impartiality.
Other commentators argued that Gómez’s police protection would prevent her leaving; the judge suggested her officers might help her abscond.

Sánchez has not been named in any of the cases, but investigations have reached his family and political circle.
His brother David is on trial in Badajoz, accused of influence peddling over an appointment nine years ago.
Former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero denies wrongdoing in an investigation involving organised crime, influence peddling and falsified documents concerning an airline loan.
Sánchez has pledged cooperation with justice and support for Zapatero’s presumption of innocence.

Former aide José Luis Ábalos, who spent seven months in prison before his April trial, is accused of taking kickbacks on $60 million-worth of pandemic face masks.
Police also searched Socialist headquarters last week over alleged misuse of party funds.
Spain’s High Court described an alleged network seeking to undermine proceedings affecting the party or government; investigators are examining whether a journalist was paid to criticise legal complaints.

Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has demanded Sánchez resign.
A small Basque coalition partner has questioned the government’s survival, while the far-left Sumar party says it would not tolerate evidence of illegal party spending.

Polls suggest Feijóo’s People’s Party could win an election and secure a majority with far-right Vox.
But removing Sánchez requires parliament to back an alternative, and several parties, particularly separatists, oppose Feijóo.

Sánchez, in office for nearly eight years, insists he will complete his term, with an election due by August next year.
His Socialists came to power after a corruption scandal brought down the People’s Party in 2018.
Legal outcomes remain unresolved; the immediate political question is whether his coalition holds.