Spanish judge sends Begoña Gómez to trial, strips her passport and bars her from leaving the country

Judge moves case to trial

A Spanish judge has ordered Begoña Gómez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to stand trial and imposed immediate restrictions that bar her from leaving Spain.

Judge Juan Carlos Peinado opened oral proceedings on June 20, 2026, according to the reporting, marking a formal escalation in a case that has shadowed Spain’s government for two years.

The order requires Gómez to surrender her passport and appear before the court every two weeks while the case moves forward. Coverage from multiple outlets said the matter is headed to a jury trial, although no trial date has been set.

Charges and restrictions

Reports described the allegations as including influence peddling, corruption in business dealings, embezzlement or misappropriation, and misuse of public funds. Some outlets framed the case more broadly as corruption charges, while others emphasized the four alleged offenses.

The same precautionary measures were not described identically in every report, but the common elements were consistent: passport surrender, an exit ban, and periodic court appearances. In some coverage, the measures were also applied to Cristina Álvarez, Gómez’s aide at La Moncloa.

The decision is significant not only because it moves the case toward trial, but because it places immediate limits on Gómez’s movement while the legal process continues.

How the case got here

The investigation began in 2024 after a complaint from the campaign group Manos Limpias. Since then, it has become one of the most politically sensitive cases involving Spain’s prime minister and his inner circle.

Coverage says Judge Peinado had been leading the inquiry before opening oral proceedings on June 20. The latest order effectively moved the matter out of the preliminary phase and into the next stage of the criminal process.

The reporting also indicates that the judge had previously resisted similar travel restrictions before reversing course in this order, underscoring how sharply the case has developed.

Political fallout

The case has drawn immediate political reaction. Sánchez and Socialist Party figures have denounced the proceedings as politically motivated, according to the reports.

Government critics, legal commentators and other opponents of the order have questioned the judge’s reasoning and the severity of the restrictions. Supporters of the decision argue the measures are meant to prevent any flight risk while the case proceeds.

The broader dispute has become as politically charged as it is legal, with the proceedings now sitting at the center of a confrontation over judicial impartiality and political pressure.

What happens next

The defense is expected to challenge the order, and the prosecutor’s office is also reported to be preparing objections or appeals.

An appellate court, including the Audiencia de Madrid, could later weigh procedural challenges or review the precautionary measures. For now, the immediate effect is clear: Gómez must remain in Spain, give up her passport and continue reporting to court twice a month.

The judge will still need to set a trial date or advance the case through further pretrial steps. For a case that began with a complaint in 2024, the June 20 order is the clearest sign yet that it is moving into open court.