In the spring of 2024, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez—a politician who had come to power on a platform of fighting corruption and restoring trust in state institutions following numerous scandals during the People’s Party era—publicly announced a five-day pause to reflect on his future political career. This was prompted by a court-ordered investigation into his wife, Begonia Gomez.
Two years on, not only has the situation failed to be resolved, but it has also taken a more serious turn, as the investigation has come to involve Sánchez’s wife, his brother, a number of his closest party colleagues and even one of the most influential figures in the socialist camp – former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
Whilst individual incidents remain the subject of legal proceedings, the body of evidence suggests that this is no longer a matter of isolated scandals, but rather a problem of political accountability within Spain’s ruling elite.
Whilst individual incidents remain the subject of legal proceedings, the body of evidence suggests that this is no longer a matter of isolated scandals, but rather a problem of political accountability within Spain’s ruling elite.
Whilst individual incidents remain the subject of legal proceedings, the body of evidence suggests that this is no longer a matter of isolated scandals, but rather a problem of political accountability within Spain’s ruling elite.
In the case of Begonia Gómez, the wife of Pedro Sánchez, initiated in April 2024 by Judge Juan Carlos Peinado, the initial focus was on verifying information regarding her activities at the Complutense University of Madrid, where Gómez headed a master’s programme and a number of projects in the fields of sustainable development and digital transformation.
Investigators were particularly interested in the fact that major private companies and state organisations were involved in the university’s operations, whilst Gómez herself enjoyed a unique political status as the wife of the Spanish Prime Minister. Over a two-year period, investigators analysed documents, contracts, email correspondence and financial flows relating to the projects she headed.
On 14 April 2026, the investigation reached a new stage. The court formally charged Begónie Gómez with several offences, including abuse of influence, business corruption, embezzlement of public funds and misappropriation of property. One of the key aspects of the case was the use of software developed with the involvement of public resources.
According to the case file, around €113,500 of public funds was allocated to the development of the platform, and the investigation is seeking to establish whether the results of this work were subsequently used for the benefit of organisations linked to Mr Gómez’s inner circle.
Along with the Prime Minister’s wife, charges were brought against her assistant, Cristina Álvarez, and the businessman Juan Carlos Barrabes. The latter had previously collaborated on a number of government projects and participated in programmes linked to Gómez’s university activities.
The defence’s position remains unchanged. Sánchez and the leadership of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party maintain that this is a politically motivated campaign initiated by organisations linked to right-wing forces, with the authorities drawing particular attention to the organisation ‘Manos Limpias’ (‘Clean Hands’), which brought some of the charges.
Even more damaging for Prime Minister Sánchez has been the case involving his brother, David Sánchez; whilst the investigation into Begonia Gómez concerns a possible conflict of interest and the misuse of political status, the case against David Sánchez centres on allegations of nepotism and the appointment of relatives to public office.
According to the investigation, a special post of coordinator of music conservatoires in the province of Badajoz was created in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura, effectively tailored to a specific candidate, namely David Sánchez. The post was subsequently reorganised into the position of head of the regional office for the performing arts.
On 28 May 2026, a trial began in Badajoz involving eleven people, including David Sánchez himself and a number of regional officials.Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the creation of the vacancy, the candidate selection process and the possible use of political influence to appoint a relative of the head of government to a public office.
Even if the charges do not ultimately result in a conviction, the political damage has already been considerable, as for many Spaniards the story appears to be a classic example of how relatives of those in power gain access to opportunities that are unavailable to the majority of citizens.
Parallel to this, investigations were launched against Pedro Sánchez’s former closest allies. One of the most high-profile cases involves José Luis Ábalos, the ex-Minister of Transport, who for many years was considered one of the key architects of Sánchez’s political project and a highly influential figure within the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE).
Law enforcement agencies are examining possible violations in the awarding of government contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus is on the procurement of medical supplies and intermediary schemes through which public funds were channeled.
The investigation has gradually expanded, drawing in new participants from the party’s network.An equally serious blow to the Socialists’ reputation came with the mention of Santos Cerdán, former organizational secretary of the PSOE and one of Sánchez’s closest party allies. His name appears in investigations related to alleged influence over government contracts and internal party decision-making mechanisms.
It became particularly symbolic that law enforcement conducted investigative actions involving the party leadership — clear evidence, for many, that corruption risks had spread beyond individual officials and affected a significant part of the Spanish Prime Minister’s inner circle.The crisis entered a new phase in June 2026, when former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero came under scrutiny. The investigation concerns the granting of state aid to the airline Plus Ultra during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company received €53 million from the government’s crisis fund, and investigators are trying to determine whether political pressure was exerted on the decision-making process and whether political connections were used to secure the financial support. During searches conducted as part of the case, jewelry worth approximately €1.3 million was discovered. Zapatero has categorically rejected all accusations and denies any involvement in possible irregularities.Taken together, these cases paint an extremely damaging picture for the Spanish government.
The spotlight is not on random officials, but on members of the innermost circle of power: the Prime Minister’s wife, his brother, former ministers, senior party officials, and influential figures from the Socialist camp.No less important is the reaction of the political system. Instead of uniting around principles of transparency, Spain is sinking into ever-deeper divisions.
The government accuses judges, prosecutors, and parts of the media of participating in a political campaign against the cabinet, while the opposition claims that the authorities are trying to discredit independent institutions to protect themselves. Supporters of the government are convinced that the investigations are part of a political war, whereas opponents see them as proof of a deeply entrenched system of privileges and cronyism.
The paradox of the situation is that Pedro Sánchez originally came to power on an anti-corruption agenda. In June 2018, his government was formed after a successful vote of no confidence against Mariano Rajoy’s conservative cabinet, triggered by the massive “Gürtel” corruption scandal — one of the largest in modern Spanish history. At the time, the Socialists positioned themselves as the force capable of restoring the moral authority of the state.
Eight years later, the same questions are now being asked about Sánchez’s own government. While none of the investigations have yet resulted in a final court verdict, and most of those involved continue to deny any wrongdoing, the political problem has gone far beyond criminal law.
The main issue is no longer whether specific individuals will be convicted, but why, time and again, in Spain’s system of government, relatives and closest allies of political leaders end up at the center of corruption investigations.
This is the key lesson of the current crisis in Spain. The problem is not only individual accusations, but the gradual erasure of boundaries between public power and private interests.
When political influence becomes a resource available to family members, trusted associates, and party comrades, it creates the risk of systemic degradation of state institutions. Today’s Spanish crisis clearly shows how quickly such degradation can undermine public trust — even in politicians who once rose to power under the banner of fighting corruption.