MADRID, Spain — Judge Juan Carlos Peinado has issued a five-day deadline for Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to prove that she used her passport exclusively to travel to London for her daughter’s graduation. The demand follows the submission of her passport at the Plaza de Castilla courts on Sunday, which notably lacked the traditional entry and exit stamps.
PM’s Wife Begoña Gómez Asks Judge for Travel Permission Amid Corruption Case
In a ruling issued on Monday, the magistrate warned Gómez that if she fails to provide this evidence, or if he determines she has violated her court-ordered restrictions, the actions could constitute a criminal offense of breaching precautionary measures. On June 20, Judge Peinado ordered Gómez to stand trial before a jury on four alleged charges and revoked her passport, banning her from leaving Spain and requiring her to appear at the courthouse every 15 days due to an alleged flight risk.
The current controversy stems from a recent travel request submitted by Gómez’s legal team. Her lawyer, Antonio Camacho, had petitioned the court to allow her to travel abroad from July 7 to 10 to join the official Spanish delegation accompanying the Prime Minister to a NATO summit in Ankara, with a planned return via London to attend her daughter’s graduation ceremony. While Judge Peinado was on vacation, substitute judge Antonio Viejo denied the request to travel to Ankara but authorized the trip to London between July 8 and 10.
In response to the judge’s latest demand, the Prime Minister’s office, La Moncloa, has strongly criticized the ruling, describing it as yet another instance of obsession, persecution, and public harassment driven by political motives. Government officials emphasized that the traditional passport stamp is rapidly becoming obsolete and is being replaced by advanced digital systems designed to be faster, more secure, and more efficient.
Government sources highlighted that starting October 12, twenty-nine European countries will implement a new biometric Entry/Exit System that officially replaces physical passport stamps. Furthermore, since April, facial recognition, fingerprint scans, and digital records have largely replaced the traditional border stamping ritual across the European Union. Officials also noted that the United Kingdom introduced an Electronic Travel Authorization system in January, following the lead of nations such as Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Argentina, which eliminated physical stamps years ago. Similar expansions of facial recognition and trusted traveler programs are currently underway in the United States.
The judge’s persistent focus on a potential flight risk has previously drawn institutional scrutiny. In a June 30 ruling, Peinado suggested it would not be the first time a European Union prime minister fled to an African country to avoid a corruption case. This remark prompted the General Council of the Judiciary to order a disciplinary investigation into whether the judge committed a serious disciplinary offense.
Gómez, who was accompanied by her husband and other family members during the London trip, now has three days to file an appeal against the resolution while working to provide the requested travel verification within the five-day window.
PEINADO NO SE FIA DE BEGOÑA GÓMEZ: LE PIDE QUE ACREDITE EL VIAJE PARA EL CUAL LE FUE DEVUELTO EL PASAPORTE.
— Fernando FG-R 🇪🇸🖤🗝 (@FernandoFGR1) July 13, 2026
Recordemos que Begoña pidió permiso al Juez para viajar a Londres a la graduación de su hija, los días 10 y 11 de julio. Su sustituto lo autorizó y Begoña tuvo permiso de… pic.twitter.com/VFeZRkhkdb
Spanish Anti-corruption Unit Identifies Irregular Contracts In Begoña Gómez University Chair Investigation
As the legal proceedings continue, the case remains a focal point of intense political and judicial debate in Spain.
