Spain's PM Sánchez's wife Begoña Gómez barred from travel amid corruption probe

A Spanish judge has ordered the seizure of Begoña Gómez's passport and imposed a travel ban, requiring her to report to authorities twice a month. The measure follows a corruption investigation into Gómez concerning alleged influence, embezzlement and misuse of a master‑program at the Complutense University of Madrid, which she co‑directed.

The investigation, led by magistrate Juan Carlos Peinado, also targets other members of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's family and close associates, raising political pressure on the governing PSOE. Opposition parties have condemned the decision as politically motivated, while Sánchez's office describes it as an overreach. A potential trial is expected around 2027, which could intersect with the upcoming parliamentary election campaign.