27.06.2026 14:33
In Spain, the passport of Begona Gomez, wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, was confiscated "on suspicion of fleeing the country" as part of a case opened against her on charges of "influence peddling, business corruption, embezzlement, and abuse of office."
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's wife, Begona Gomez, has surrendered her passport to the court due to flight risk in the case where she will be tried on charges of influence peddling and corruption. It was also decided that she must sign in twice a month.
SURRENDERED HER PASSPORT
It was notable that, for the first time in Spanish history, the passport of a prime minister's spouse was confiscated by judicial order. Following the ruling of Judge Juan Carlos Peinado, who ordered the confiscation of her passport as a precautionary measure in the case involving four charges against her, Prime Minister's wife Begona Gomez went to court and surrendered her passport.
Begona Gomez spent a total of 17 minutes at the Madrid court for the passport surrender process, entering and exiting the courthouse via the parking lot in her vehicle for security reasons.
WILL SIGN TWICE A MONTH
A large number of media members gathered outside the court. As part of the precautionary measures against her, Begona Gomez will also have to appear at the court twice a month to sign. Most recently accompanying Prime Minister Sanchez on a trip to China two months ago, Begona Gomez will be unable to leave Spain until the charges against her are dropped.
The same precautionary measures were also applied to Cristina Alvarez, who serves as Begona Gomez's assistant and was appointed by the Prime Minister's office.
In the case that has sparked debates in Spain about "the influence of the judiciary on politics," Judge Peinado, citing the risk of the Prime Minister's wife fleeing the country as grounds for imposing the precautionary measures, had also created legal and political controversy by implying that Spanish police "could help Begona Gomez evade justice."
24-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE SOUGHT FOR SANCHEZ'S WIFE
The General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) in Spain had decided to launch a disciplinary investigation against Judge Peinado due to the implication that "police could facilitate Begona Gomez's escape."
Following the complaint by the far-right and ultra-Catholic organization Hazte Oir, Prime Minister Sanchez's wife Begona Gomez faces a 24-year prison sentence, while her assistant Cristina Alvarez faces a 22-year sentence.
Among the allegations against Gomez, accused of "using her influence to establish commercial and professional relationships with various companies and organizations, and attempting to benefit from public subsidies and aid," are charges that she used her personal position to secure sponsorships, services, and technical support for a tool or software she developed within the Complutense University of Madrid, where she worked, obtained financial benefits, and misused public funds.
The Central Operations Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard had published a report denying all allegations against Begona Gomez.
Prime Minister Sanchez argues that behind his wife's trial are efforts to "undermine the government's actions through personal attacks, disinformation campaigns, and lies."