AsiaOne

Spain’s judiciary moved the Pedro Sánchez government case involving Begoña Gómez forward after a judge ordered her to face trial on June 20, directing her to surrender her passport. Investigative judge Juan Carlos Peinado said Gómez should appear because he considers her a flight risk, and she must also report to a court every two weeks, though no trial date has been set. The charges relate to alleged influence peddling and corruption, including claims that Gómez used her position to affect government contracts for technology companies, and that she misused public funds and software during her time as a professor at a public university. Gómez denies wrongdoing. The decision triggered political confrontation: Spain’s Socialist Party called it an “absolute scandal for democracy,” while conservative opposition figures urged an early election. Peinado also indicated a businessman allegedly connected to the contracts and a consultant tied to Gómez would go to trial as well.