The Provincial Court of Madrid has ruled that Begoña Gómez, wife of the prime minister, will face a popular jury trial on two charges: influence peddling and misappropriation of public funds. The court dismisses two additional accusations and lifts precautionary measures that barred her from leaving the country.
The Section 23 of the Provincial Court of Madrid, meeting in plenary with five judges, upheld on Thursday Judge Juan Carlos Peinado’s decision to send Begoña Gómez to a jury trial. The court found sufficient rational indications of criminality for the crimes of influence peddling and misappropriation of public funds, while dismissing the charge of corruption in business and redirecting the misappropriation charge.
Cristina Álvarez, Gómez’s assistant at La Moncloa, will also stand trial for misappropriation. Businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés is excluded from the jury procedure and his case will proceed separately to investigate possible irregular contract awards.
The court lifted the precautionary measures imposed by Peinado, such as passport seizure and biweekly court appearances, citing no flight risk. The PSOE described the case as “political” and based on “fake news”.
The more than 60-page ruling cites precedents such as the Iñaki Urdangarin case and notes that the marital relationship with the prime minister can create an “efficient moral pressure” in contexts like the creation of a chair at the Complutense University.
