The wife of Spain's prime minister attended a preliminary hearing on Monday at Madrid's Court of Investigation number 41, where her lawyer denounced the politicization of the case.
Antonio Camacho, lawyer for Begoña Gómez, stated during the hearing that the procedure aims to “erode” Pedro Sánchez's government. “Whoever wants to do politics should go to the street, not to a court,” he said.
Judge Juan Carlos Peinado will decide in the coming days whether to open an oral trial for four crimes and whether to impose precautionary measures. The popular accusations, coordinated by HazteOir, request withdrawal of Gómez's passport and require her to appear every two weeks.
The Prosecutor's Office and the defenses opposed any restrictions. Alongside Gómez appeared her assistant Cristina Álvarez and businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés. The magistrate has three days to rule.