A Spanish investigative judge has ordered Begoña Gómez, wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to stand trial on charges of influence peddling, corruption in commercial dealings, and misuse of public funds. Judge Juan Carlos Peinado issued the ruling on Saturday, citing a flight risk and ordering Gómez to surrender her passport and appear before a court every two weeks until a trial date — which has not yet been set — is established. Border authorities at all land crossings, as well as civil and military airports, have been instructed to enforce the travel ban. Gómez has announced she will appeal the decision.

The charges stem from a two-year investigation launched after complaints filed by Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), a pressure group with links to far-right and conservative causes. Prosecutors allege that Gómez used her position as prime minister's wife to steer lucrative government contracts toward technology companies in which she had business interests, and that she improperly benefited from a university chair in Madrid to advance her academic career and secure deals for the institution. A businessman who allegedly benefited from the contracts and a consultant who worked for Gómez will also stand trial, according to the ruling. Gómez has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

The decision triggered an immediate and fierce political response. Senior government ministers denounced the ruling as politically motivated, with Justice Minister Félix Bolaños calling Saturday