MADRID – The popular accusation brought by the conservative organization Hazte Oír has formally requested a total of 24 years in prison for Begoña Gómez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. In its indictment, to which local news agencies have had access, Hazte Oír accuses Gómez of four crimes for which she has already been charged by Judge Juan Carlos Peinado: influence peddling, corruption in business, embezzlement of public funds, and misappropriation.
The organization is also seeking 22 years in prison for Cristina Álvarez, Gómez’s former advisor at Moncloa who allegedly worked as her personal assistant while being paid with public funds. For businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés, the accusation requests 6 years in prison for his alleged involvement in influence peddling and business corruption.
Key Requests in the Indictment
Hazte Oír has asked the court to summon Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as a witness, arguing that his testimony is relevant regarding “his relationship with the accused and the use of the Moncloa presidential complex as a relational space for the project.”
The organization also proposes that the three defendants be required to post a sufficient bail to cover potential fines and legal costs.
Additionally, it requests precautionary measures including a ban on leaving Spanish territory without judicial authorization, the withdrawal of their passports, and the obligation to sign in at court every two weeks, citing “an evident and well-founded risk of flight.”
The Accusation’s Argument
According to Hazte Oír’s indictment, Begoña Gómez’s professional career before her husband became Prime Minister was linked to the private sector in marketing, consulting, and fundraising. However, from June 2018 onward, “the accused, fully aware and voluntarily, made a radical change in her trajectory.”
The document claims that once Pedro Sánchez assumed the presidency, Gómez’s institutional profile and influence grew significantly, giving her privileged access to senior officials and major companies. The accusation alleges she consciously leveraged her position as the Prime Minister’s wife to obtain advantages.
Regarding Cristina Álvarez’s hiring at Moncloa, Hazte Oír maintains that Gómez “voluntarily, freely, and consciously influenced public officials” to appoint Álvarez as temporary staff, exerting “effective moral pressure” due to her personal relationship with the Prime Minister. The organization argues that Álvarez lacked the necessary qualifications and experience for the role.
The accusation clarifies, however, that Álvarez’s regular duties were carried out at the Moncloa Palace and did not include managing Gómez’s private, business, or university agenda.
Next Steps
Judge Juan Carlos Peinado has already proposed trying Begoña Gómez and the other two defendants. The parties now have five days to submit their provisional conclusions before the case potentially moves to an oral trial before a popular jury.
Corruption scandals have Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez cornered
The case remains one of the most politically sensitive judicial proceedings in recent Spanish history.
