World

Jun 20, 2026 12:46 PM EDT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - A judge ruled on Saturday that the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez must stand trial on influence peddling and corruption charges and must turn in her passport.

Investigative judge Juan Carlos Peinado issued the order, citing concerns that Begoña Gómez could flee. She must also check in with the court every two weeks. No trial date has been scheduled yet.

The ruling sparked sharp political clashes, with opposition parties demanding that Sánchez's Socialist administration step down.

Gómez is charged with using her status to steer government contracts toward several technology companies. The judge further accused her of misusing public money to hire a consultant and improperly using software during her time as a professor at a public university.

Gómez has rejected all allegations. Sánchez described the proceedings as a smear effort by conservative rivals aimed at undermining his left-leaning government, which has held power since 2018.

Peinado noted that a businessman said to have gained from the contracts and the consultant who assisted Gómez will also face trial.

Sánchez, who has criticized U.S. President Donald Trump, confronts legal challenges on several fronts ahead of a general election expected by next year.

Earlier this week, former Socialist prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero appeared before another judge regarding his alleged involvement in an airline bailout and to address the discovery of luxury jewelry in a police search of his office. He denies any misconduct.

Officials in the government condemned the decision as politically driven, while the Socialist Party labeled it an affront to democratic norms.

"Begoña Gómez is innocent," the party stated. "For two years she has endured a political and judicial campaign against her. This latest step represents further escalation."

Spain's conservative opposition responded forcefully, pressing for an early election.

"Lawmakers and the architects of our constitution could never have imagined that the threats to our democracy could originate from the Spanish government itself," said Miguel Tellado, secretary-general of the main opposition People's Party.

"Now we see how the government attacks judges, prosecutors and the media while attempting to silence opposition parties," he said. "This is unthinkable in any modern democracy."

The two-year probe into Gómez began after complaints from the pressure group Manos Limpias, or Clean Hands, which has filed numerous legal actions often tied to conservative interests.

Derek Gatopoulos contributed to this report from Athens, Greece.