Spain court annuls jury trial for PM’s wife, but graft probe continues

MADRID (AFP) — A Madrid court has annulled a judge's decision to order Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's wife, Begona Gomez, to a jury trial over alleged embezzlement of public funds, calling it "premature."

It added, however, that the investigation was ongoing.

The long-running probe is one of several into Sanchez's family and former close allies that have embarrassed the Socialist leader and heaped pressure on his minority coalition.

"The decision taken by the investigating magistrate is premature and lacks factual, legal and procedural grounding," the court said in a ruling dated Feb. 20 made public on Monday.

Judge Juan Carlos Peinado opened an investigation in April 2024 to determine whether Gomez exploited her position as Sanchez's wife for private benefit.

In September 2025 he ordered Gomez to be tried before a jury on charges of public embezzlement linked to the hiring of an assistant who is also under investigation.

Her lawyer appealed the ruling, denouncing a lack of evidence and questioning the judge's interpretation of the criminal code.

Gomez has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Sanchez has dismissed the allegations against his wife as an attempt to undermine his government by the right, which has demanded his resignation.

Separate corruption probes have ensnared two former Socialist heavyweights, Santos Cerdan and ex-transport minister Jose Luis Abalos, as well as the prime minister's younger brother David Sanchez.

The legal troubles compound woes for the minority government which engages in laborious negotiations with an array of fringe and regional separatist parties to try to pass legislation.

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By Agence France-Presse