Spanish Judge Probes EU Funds Fraud by PM’s Wife
A Spanish judge has opened a new criminal investigation into Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's wife Begoña Gómez for alleged fraud involving EU funds and abuse of public office.
Magistrate Juan Carlos Peinado has separated a new line of investigation from the existing case against Gómez to examine public contracts financed with EU money. He has requested prosecutors assess whether the conduct under scrutiny constitutes criminal activity.
The investigation centers on contracts awarded by Red.es, a state-owned entity, to companies connected to businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés. Authorities aim to determine whether irregularities occurred in the awarding process.
This portion of the case had previously been handled by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, which spent nearly two years investigating whether Barrabés received preferential treatment in securing publicly funded contracts. Spain’s Audiencia Nacional, a high-level court, ruled in favor of an appeal that stripped the European prosecutor’s office of jurisdiction and returned the matter to Peinado’s court.
Gómez faces accusations of writing letters of recommendation for firms that subsequently competed for and secured government-funded contracts. She has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The Spanish Government, based at Moncloa Palace, quickly rejected the latest development as baseless, with sources asserting Gómez had no involvement with the contract under investigation.
This new inquiry proceeds independently from the primary case, in which Gómez, Barrabés, and presidential adviser Cristina Álvarez are being investigated for four alleged offenses. Peinado has concluded that phase and recommended the three face trial by jury.
Gómez and Álvarez currently await a judicial decision on precautionary measures requested by a private prosecution, which seeks passport confiscation, a travel ban preventing them from leaving Spain, and mandatory fortnightly court appearances.
The investigation into Gómez originated from a complaint filed by a right-wing advocacy organization. It has evolved into a persistent source of political tension between Sánchez’s minority left-wing government and opposition forces who have repeatedly called for his resignation.
With information from Brussels Signal
