Gómez's Passport Withdrawn
Begoña Gómez's passport withdrawn, stopping her attendance at global summits with Sánchez.
A Spanish judge has ordered the withdrawal of Begoña Gómez's passport, effectively barring the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez from joining him at major international summits. Judge Juan Carlos Peinado issued the 84-page ruling on June 20, 2026, ordering a jury trial and imposing the travel ban on the grounds of "risk of flight" — a decision Levante-EMV describes as unprecedented in Spanish history.
Gómez now faces four criminal charges: influence peddling, corruption in business, embezzlement of public funds, and misappropriation. Together, the accusations carry a potential sentence of 24 years in prison. She must appear in court on June 24 to physically hand over her travel documents and sign in at Madrid's Plaza de Castilla courts every 15 days.
NATO, UN, and G20 Trips Now Off the Table
The passport ban arrives just 15 days before the NATO summit in Ankara, which Gómez had been expected to attend alongside Sánchez. She would also miss the UN General Assembly and the next G20 summit. At major summits like these, spouses of world leaders take part in a parallel "spouse program" — a role Gómez had previously played actively, according to Cadena SER.
This is not the first time the judge has disrupted her travel plans. In November 2024, Peinado nearly stopped Gómez from attending the G20 in Rio de Janeiro by scheduling a court summons on the exact same day as her flight, Diario Córdoba reported. He eventually allowed the trip but called her attendance "voluntary" and "circumstantial."
Judge's Reasoning Stirs Outrage Among Police Unions
Peinado's ruling sparked an unusual controversy. The judge argued that Gómez's state-provided police escort could actually help her flee — rather than prevent it. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska called the insinuation "unacceptable" and filed an official complaint against Peinado with Spain's General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), the body that oversees judges.
Police unions, including SUP and Jupol, demanded a public retraction from the judge. Several legal experts also questioned his logic. A person under 24/7 National Police surveillance, critics argued, is by definition the least likely to flee undetected. The CGPJ has since opened a disciplinary file against Peinado, according to El Periódico de Aragón.
A Case Built by Right-Wing Advocacy Groups Since 2024
The case against Gómez began in April 2024 with a complaint filed by Manos Limpias, a right-wing advocacy group. Groups including Hazte Oír and Vox later joined as "popular accusers" — a legal role in Spain that lets outside organizations drive a criminal prosecution. It was this coalition that formally requested the passport withdrawal at a hearing on June 15, 2026, LNE reported.
The charges center on two main areas. First, Gómez allegedly used her position at Moncloa to steer contracts to favored companies, including a software deal worth €24,200. Second, she is accused of mismanaging a Master's program at Complutense University. A related Red.es contract worth €4 million is now under investigation in a separate branch of the case, according to El Periódico Mediterráneo.
Government Calls It a Scandal; Opposition Demands Elections
Sánchez has consistently defended his wife, calling the case a "political hit job." The ruling socialist party PSOE launched the hashtag #YoConBegoña — "I Stand With Begoña" — and labeled the passport ban a "democratic scandal." Gómez's lawyer, Antonio Camacho, called the measures "disproportionate" and a "violation of defense rights," according to La Opinión de A Coruña.
The conservative PP saw it differently. Secretary General Miguel Tellado said Sánchez "has turned Moncloa into a den of delinquents" and called for immediate elections. Gómez's defense is expected to appeal to the Audiencia Provincial de Madrid within three days. That appeal, however, will not automatically stop her from having to hand over her passport on Wednesday.
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