Begoña Gómez faces 13‑year prison request in influence‑peddling case

Begoña Gómez Hazte Oír influence peddling university chair 13‑year sentence

The popular prosecution led by the far‑right association Hazte Oír has revised its request, now seeking a 13‑year prison term for Begoña Gómez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, on charges of influence peddling and misappropriation of public assets linked to a university chair at the Complutense University of Madrid. The same filing asks for a six‑year term for her aide, Cristina Álvarez, for related misuse of public funds. The Madrid Provincial Court has upheld the judge’s decision to try Gómez before a popular jury, limiting the case to two offences – influence peddling and public‑asset misappropriation – and dropping accusations of corruption in business and appropriation of assets. The accusations contend that Gómez obtained the chair without a transparent selection process and diverted software developed with public money for private use. The prosecution also requests testimony from Pedro Sánchez and Justice Minister Félix Bolaños. The request replaces an earlier demand that asked for up to 24 years for Gómez and 22 years for Álvarez.

Entities: Arturo Zamarriego · Audiencia Provincial de Madrid · Begoña Gómez · Complutense University of Madrid · Cristina Álvarez · David Sánchez · Hazte Oír · Javier Pérez Dolset · Juan Carlos Peinado · Leire Díez · Pedro Sánchez · Pere Rusiñol

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 4 SOURCES] Magistrate Arturo Zamarriego had originally included Leire Díez, businessman Javier Pérez Dolset and journalist Pere Rusiñol in an investigation for alleged bribery and influence peddling. (original investigation scope)
[● 4 SOURCES] Hazte Oír filed an appeal against the January order issued by magistrate Arturo Zamarriego. (appeal filing)
[● 4 SOURCES] The Audiencia Provincial rejected Hazte Oír's appeal, stating errors in assessing criminal connection and noting a single coordinated plan originating from Madrid. (court ruling)
[● 4 SOURCES] The prosecution opposed the appeal, arguing that accepting it would create an overly vague ‘macro‑cause’. (prosecution statement)
[● 4 SOURCES] The Audiencia Provincial of Madrid approved the decision of the judge not to include a claim investigating whether Leire Díez maneuvered against the Badajoz judge. (court decision)
[● 5 SOURCES] Hazte Oír requested a prison term of 6 years for Cristina Álvarez, the assistant of Begoña Gómez. (popular prosecution)
[● 5 SOURCES] The prosecution's filing lists about one hundred witnesses, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Justice Minister Félix Bolaños, to testify in the trial. (prosecution filing)
[● 5 SOURCES] Hazte Oír is an ultra‑right association that leads the popular prosecution against Begoña Gómez. (article description)
[● 5 SOURCES] Begoña Gómez is accused of obtaining a university chair at the Complutense University of Madrid without a documented selection process, allegedly using her status as the prime minister’s spouse. (prosecution allegation)
[● 5 SOURCES] The Audiencia Provincial de Madrid approved that Begoña Gómez will be tried before a popular jury on the offences of influence‑trafficking and malversation. (court decision)
[● 3 SOURCES] The court dismissed earlier allegations of appropriation and corruption in business against Begoña Gómez. (court decision)
[● 3 SOURCES] Judge Juan Carlos Peinado removed travel restrictions, passport confiscation, and periodic check‑in requirements previously imposed on Begoña Gómez. (court order)