Spanish PM's wife must stand trial on corruption charges, judge rules

The wife of Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez must stand trial on corruption charges and has ​been banned from leaving the country, a ‌judge ruled on Saturday.

Begoña Gomez is under investigation over allegations she used her position as the prime minister's wife to secure ​work contracts. She denies any wrongdoing. The case ​was brought by far-right groups.

Investigating judge Juan ⁠Carlos Peinado ordered Gomez to surrender her passport, barred ​her from leaving Spain and required her to report ​to court twice a month.

The case is one of several corruption probes nearing or already at trial that are weighing ​on Sanchez, one of Europe's few remaining leftist leaders. ​He has not been named in any of the cases and ‌has ⁠said they are part of a campaign to remove him from office.

Several close allies, including the Socialist party's number three and Sanchez's former transport minister, are ​under investigation in ​cases involving ⁠alleged kickbacks linked to public works, oil and gas contracts, and the procurement ​of masks during the pandemic. They deny ​wrongdoing.

Separately, ⁠Spain's High Court said it was investigating former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero over allegations he led a ⁠network ​that profited from lobbying public ​authorities on behalf of third parties, including airline Plus Ultra. He denies ​the claims.

-Reuters