Story perspectives

Judge Bars PM's Wife, Seizes Passport Amid Corruption Probe

6/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

A Spanish judge barred Begoña Gómez, wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, from leaving Spain and ordered her passport surrendered after Manos Limpias filed a probe accusing her of embezzlement, influence peddling and misuse of funds.
Sánchez called the allegations a motivated smear by right-wing opponents, saying the investigation persecutes his family.
Former transport minister José Luis Ábalos and deputy David Sánchez also face separate kickback and influence-peddling probes.

History

Historical Context

In February 1992, magistrate Antonio Di Pietro began the Mani Pulite investigation that uncovered kickbacks, prompting the collapse of Italy’s Christian Democracy and the indictment of former prime minister Bettino Craxi and media magnate Silvio Berlusconi. The 2024 Spanish court ruling barring Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s wife Begoña Gómez from travel mirrors that earlier assault on political families.

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Story summary

A Spanish judge barred Begoña Gómez, wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, from leaving Spain and ordered her passport surrendered after Manos Limpias filed a probe accusing her of embezzlement, influence peddling and misuse of funds.
Sánchez called the allegations a motivated smear by right-wing opponents, saying the investigation persecutes his family.
Former transport minister José Luis Ábalos and deputy David Sánchez also face separate kickback and influence-peddling probes.

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