Investigating magistrate Juan Carlos Peinado decided on Monday to send Begoña Gómez, as well as her associate Cristina Álvarez, to trial.

The decision was taken following the ruling by the Provincial Court of Madrid in July, which paved the way for the judicial proceedings to continue.

The case concerns allegations that Gómez used her relationship with the Spanish prime minister to further her professional career and co-direct a programme at the Complutense University of Madrid.

It is also being investigated whether she used public resources and government staff for private interests. She denies any wrongdoing.

New judicial pressure on Sánchez

The case involving the Spanish prime minister’s wife comes at a time of mounting political pressure on Pedro Sánchez and the Socialists.

In recent months, other figures linked to the Socialist Party have also come under scrutiny. Former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was called to answer questions regarding €53 million in state aid during the pandemic, while former senior party official Santos Cerdán was investigated in a case involving possible illegal commissions concerning public contracts and former minister José Luis Ábalos.

Both have denied any wrongdoing.

The next stage of the proceedings

Gómez’s case will now be transferred to a higher court, which will set the date for the hearing.

Spain’s public prosecutor’s office, which maintains that the evidence does not establish that a criminal offence was committed, as well as Gómez’s defence, are seeking her acquittal.

By contrast, Hazte Oír, a far-right Catholic group that is participating in the proceedings as a private prosecutor, is seeking a 13-year prison sentence for Gómez.

Her lawyer, Jaime Campaner, has argued that Hazte Oír’s indictment contains “serious technical shortcomings” that are inconsistent with the law and cannot be remedied at this stage of the proceedings.

For this reason, he has asked for the case to be closed.