A Madrid judge formally charged Begoña Gómez, wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, with four corruption-related offenses on Monday, proposing she stand trial. Judge Juan Carlos Peinado's 39-page resolution indicts her for embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in the private sector and misappropriation, while dismissing a charge of professional intrusion due to insufficient evidence.

Cristina Álvarez, an advisor in the Prime Minister's office who worked closely with Gómez, and businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés face prosecution alongside her. Parties now have five days to submit arguments on opening an oral trial, after which appeals may follow before the Madrid Provincial High Court.

The investigation began in April 2024 following complaints from anti-corruption groups like Manos Limpias and Vox, probing whether Gómez leveraged her husband's position for private gain. It has expanded over two years to include her role co-directing master's programs and an extraordinary chair at Complutense University, as well as her Transformación Social Corporativa project. Gómez has testified multiple times, denying all allegations, most recently in December 2024.

Allegations center on the alleged misuse of public funds through Álvarez's hiring at Moncloa to assist Gómez's institutional and private activities, giving an improper institutional sheen to her projects. Peinado described Álvarez as a "necessary co-operator" exerting moral pressure. Separately, Barrabés is accused of benefiting from meetings at Moncloa and Gómez's support letters for public contracts shortly before his firm bid. The judge noted public decisions favoring Gómez's university chair and project stemmed from exploiting her relational position.

Peinado drew a controversial comparison, stating such conduct from presidential residences evoked absolutist regimes like that of Ferdinand VII, prompting defense outrage over impartiality. The resolution came as Sánchez visited China, prompting government sources to call the timing deliberate. Justice Minister Félix Bolaños said it embarrassed judges and citizens, damaging justice's reputation irreparably.

Gómez's lawyer, Antonio Camacho, labeled the process a "nightmare" without guarantees, accusing Peinado of ulterior motives. Vox hailed it as accountability for PSOE corruption. Sánchez previously paused duties in 2024 to mull resignation but stayed, dismissing claims as right-wing hoaxes.

The charges add to woes for Sánchez's minority Socialist government, facing multiple probes including against his brother, ahead of elections next year.