Jerusalem Post/World NewsThe case is one of several corruption probes nearing or already at trial that are weighing on Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.Follow us on GoogleA truck displaying images of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his wife Begona Gomez drives outside the court as a way of protest on the day Gomez appears in court to testify as part of influence-peddling investigation, in Madrid, Spain, June 15, 2026.(photo credit: REUTERS/Ana Beltran)ByREUTERSJUNE 20, 2026 20:45The wife of Spanish Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez must stand trial on corruption charges and has been banned from going abroad, a judge ruled on Saturday.Begoña Gomez is suspected of using her position as the prime minister's wife to secure work contracts. She denies any wrongdoing. The case was brought by far-right groups who oppose Sanchez's party.Investigating judge Juan Carlos Peinado ordered Gomez to surrender her passport, barred her from leaving Spain and required her to report to court twice a month.Gomez's case one of several corruption investigations close to SanchezThe case is one of several corruption probes nearing or already at trial that are weighing on Sanchez, one of Europe's few remaining leftist leaders. He has not been named in any of the cases and has said they are part of a campaign to remove him from office.El Pais newspaper cited sources close to Gomez as saying she would appeal against the conditions imposed by the judge, including the withdrawal of her passport.A protester stands next to a cut-out depicting Begona Gomez, wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, outside the court where Gomez appears before a judge to testify as part of an influence-peddling investigation, in Madrid, Spain September 10, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/VIOLETA SANTOS MOURA)The Socialist Party posted on the messaging platform X/Twitter: "(Begoña) has been subjected to judicial and political persecution for two years. Today's development is another step in that process."Several close allies, including the Socialist Party's number three and Sanchez's former transport minister, are under investigation in cases involving alleged kickbacks linked to public works, oil and gas contracts, and the procurement of masks during the pandemic. They deny wrongdoing.Separately, Spain's High Court said it was investigating former prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero over allegations he led a network that profited from lobbying public ​authorities on behalf of third parties, including airline Plus Ultra. He denies the claims.Follow us on Google