Sánchez faces 'black week' as wife Begoña Gómez's court hearing opens a cascade of judicial pressure

Today's hearing

Begoña Gómez, wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, must appear in person before magistrate Juan Carlos Peinado at the Plaza de Castilla courts in Madrid at 6 p.m. for a preliminary hearing, the final step before the judge seeks to send her to trial by jury. In his summons, the judge warned that failure to attend would lead to arrest and precautionary measures, including the possible withdrawal of her passport.

They are warned that they must appear in person, under express warning of being conducted by public force if they do not do so.

The charges

Gómez faces four corruption counts: embezzlement, influence peddling, business corruption and misappropriation of a trademark. The accusations stem from her role in a university chair at the Complutense University of Madrid and the alleged use of Moncloa staff for private business. Co-defendants are her advisor Cristina Álvarez and businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés, who allegedly received favourable recommendation letters. The prosecutor's office says the facts do not constitute a crime, but private accusations led by Hazte Oír are requesting a sentence of up to 24 years in prison.

Senate testimony

On Tuesday, the director of the Guardia Civil, Mercedes González, will testify before the Senate Interior Committee over the "Leire case". She is alleged to have met former PSOE militant Leire Díez on at least three occasions to gather information to undermine the anti-corruption unit investigating the government. González initially denied the meetings, then admitted them after evidence surfaced.

Zapatero under investigation

Last Friday, a new separate investigation was opened against former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero for contraband and tax fraud. The case relates to jewels valued at 1.3 million euros that were found in his office and appraised by a Madrid jewellery store.

Political pressure

Party figures describe the legal cascade as a "death by a thousand cuts", warning that it is eroding the PSOE's credibility with only a year until regional elections. The government is trying to project normality, but the back-to-back court and Senate appearances, combined with the new Zapatero probe, have turned this week into a political ordeal.