Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, will stand trial before a citizen jury on charges of alleged influence peddling and embezzlement after a Madrid court upheld the core of the case against her, while dismissing two other accusations and lifting restrictions on her movements.
Thursday’s ruling marks the most significant legal challenge yet involving the prime minister’s family and comes as Sánchez’s PSOE-led government continues to battle a series of corruption investigations and political scandals affecting relatives, former party figures and close associates.
The case stems from an investigation opened by Judge Peinado in April 2024 into whether Gómez used her position as the prime minister’s wife to obtain private advantages. Both Gómez and Sánchez have consistently denied any wrongdoing.
A disputed Spanish law granting an amnesty to those involved in Catalonia’s separatist drive does not violate European Union rules, the bloc’s top court said on Thursday, in a boost to the Spanish government and its Catalan allies
The amnesty, approved by Spain’s parliament in 2024, was part of an agreement between the ruling Socialist Party and Catalan separatist groups that allowed Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to stay in power in 2023. The conservative opposition made several unsuccessful attempts to block the amnesty.
In its decision, the CJEU ruled that the adoption and application of the law fall within Spain’s competence.
The amnesty is the landmark bill of Sanchez’s second term
The ruling may help ease tensions between the ruling Socialists and Catalonia’s separatist party Junts, which
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are heading to the World Cup final with their daughters. The Spanish Royal Household has confirmed that the King and Queen, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía will travel together to the New York area to support Spain in its highly anticipated championship match against Argentina.
The trip will bring all four members of Spain’s royal family together at one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
While members of the family regularly attend important matches separately, it is unusual for King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía to travel together to support the national team at a major international final.
The King’s attendance also fulfills a promise he made to the Spanish players earlier in the tournament.Felipe visited the national team in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he attended Spain’s group-stage match against Uruguay on June 26. During his meeting with the players, the monarch reportedly told them that he would not return to see the team until the final.
Now that Spain is one victory away from lifting the trophy, Felipe will keep his word, and he will be joined by Letizia, Leonor and Sofía for the occasion.
The family had already shown its excitement following Spain’s semifinal victory. While in Barcelona for events surrounding the Princess of Girona Foundation Awards, Felipe, Letizia, Leonor and Sofía watched the match together wearing personalized Spain jerseys featuring their names and the number 26.
Spain will now face reigning champion Argentina on Sunday, July 19
…and that’s your Spanish News – from Giles Brown