Spanish judge orders Begoña Gómez, prime minister’s wife, to face corruption trial and surrender her passport

A Spanish judge has ordered Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spain’s prime minister, to face a corruption trial and to surrender her passport, according to an order reported June 20 by PBS NewsHour. The judge’s decision requires Gómez to comply with court restrictions while the accusations against her are adjudicated in the criminal process.

The allegations center on claims that Gómez used her position to influence government contracting decisions involving technology companies, a matter the judge tied to potential corruption. The judge also accused her of improper handling of public funds related to the hiring of a consultant, according to the report.

In addition to the contracting and public-funds allegations, the judge’s reasoning included a separate claim involving Gómez’s conduct while she was a professor at a public university. The report says the judge accused her of inappropriate use of software during that period, as part of the overall case framed in the criminal filing.

Under the judge’s order, surrendering a passport is typically intended to limit a defendant’s ability to travel and to ensure availability for court proceedings. The passport requirement indicates that the court viewed travel as a concern while the case moves toward trial, even as the underlying allegations have not yet been tested in court.

Gómez’s case adds to the wider scrutiny of Spain’s political institutions and decision-making processes around public contracts, particularly when government business intersects with connections or influence allegations involving individuals close to senior leadership. It also highlights how courts in Spain can address conduct in multiple spheres, including official contracting and prior professional roles in public education.

The next steps will be determined by the trial timeline and the procedural path set by the court. Until the trial concludes, Gómez is subject to the judge’s order and related legal constraints, with the questions of whether she committed the alleged acts remaining for the judicial process to resolve.