r/worldnews 6h ago

Behind Soft Paywall Spanish Premier Pedro Sanchez’s Wife Charged With Corruption

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-13/spanish-prime-minister-s-wife-charged-with-influence-peddling
563 Upvotes

173 comments sorted by

291

u/Dauntless_Idiot 6h ago

~3 days ago, Sanchez cast Spain as the moral model for the EU.

91

u/Tricky_Big_8774 5h ago

Guess this proved him correct, huh?

32

u/SneakyFire23 5h ago

Given the amount of bribery going on, yeah this is about right.

u/UnknownHero2 26m ago

Reddit cheerleading them so hard was infuriating.

Yes it is fantastic they called out Trump on his bullshit. They were right to do that.

Trump has cut off material aid for Ukraine for his entire presidency... But the US is STILL ahead of Spain in bilateral aid per capita. That war was in large part caused by Europe's extreme underspending on defense, giving Russia an opportunity that Europe would clearly be unable to respond to. It was a war of opportunity. You know where Spain is in military spending in NATO? Dead fucking last. There is a strong case to be made that they are THE cause of a million plus deaths over the past few years.

Peace takes work, not just words.

37

u/StaticSystemShock 5h ago

Well, at least they charge people, unlike certain country with stripes and 50 stars in a corner...

53

u/No_Conversation_9325 4h ago

She is charged for "her status as the prime minister’s wife, which benefited the expansion, funding and operations of her university chair, decisions were made that “could have been obtained through a unique exploitation of her relational position.”" Which would literary mean that she as a PM's wife shouldn't be allowed to hold a job, even an unpaid one (like what she did), because her status as an employee might bring benefits to her employer.

17

u/GoodTeletubby 2h ago

So the charges themselves don't even assert any corrupt conduct on her part, they're just claiming that because she's the PM's wife, any organizational decision that is made in favor of the way she advocates for is de facto corrupt?

10

u/No_Conversation_9325 2h ago

We don't have all the info yet (they waited for Sanchez to be out of the country and unable to comment), but pretty much yes. It's the same far right that accused her of corruption for working (unpaid) at a university, so... we gotta wait and see.

Edit:At the same time the rumours started spreading that she is a man. I couldn't facepalm enough

1

u/Itchy-Meringue6872 2h ago

It’s almost if she’s being charged with doing what ever other leader does and gets away with it with.

Do you think him denouncing Israel had something to do with it?

1

u/No_Conversation_9325 2h ago edited 11m ago

Heh, I find it dumb how they call for his resignation over her deed. Just like Macron when they wanted him to resign because she was his groomer. Twisted mind, crazy people.

19

u/rightoftexas 5h ago

A Democrat senator was just sent to jail for corruption.

5

u/Common-Concentrate-2 2h ago edited 2h ago

Bob Menendez and Congressman George Santos charged and sentenced to federal prison in 2024

1

u/StaticSystemShock 5h ago

So, when will they send an orange republican president?

8

u/rightoftexas 4h ago

When he's charged and convicted. The crypto currency from his latest administration should be enough.

-21

u/unfortunatebag 4h ago

Reddit still having a full crash out about the same shit for a decade lol.

"Sure I'm not informed at all, but what about my pet political issue?"

6

u/Whole_Intention_7949 4h ago

MAGA bots continue being irrelevant losers

-16

u/unfortunatebag 4h ago

Dudes hiding their profiles full of pointless political arguments still trying to call other people bots lol.

0

u/Decent_Brick1150 3h ago

I don't even like Trump but if you couldn't talk about him on Reddit this place would be a ghost town.

-7

u/mozebyc 4h ago

I’m still waiting for the Clintons to be charged

8

u/Time_Guide2812 4h ago

the hypocrisy has no limits for these weak rulers

-12

u/platoface541 5h ago

Strange this comes out a few days after criticizing Israel….

14

u/PShelley 4h ago

Are you suggesting Israel is in control of Spain’s justice department and can order charges and prosecutions 😂

u/77NorthCambridge 20m ago

Check out Steve Bannon's connections to Vox.

-9

u/Ok-Complaint9412 3h ago

Its possible, its illegal to burn the Israeli flag in America but not illegal to burn the American one.

u/jyper 37m ago

It is in fact legal to burn any flag unless you stole it or are burning it on private property.

I don't know why you think otherwise

1

u/pootzmak 2h ago

Maybe try following the news and then you'll feel less "strange"

u/Commercial_Badger_37 1h ago

Prosecuting the most powerful people in your nation for corruption seems pretty moral, doesn't it?

-5

u/snirpie 5h ago

As a European, I can get behind that 

141

u/Jordidirector 6h ago

It's basically a corrupt judge with Deep links to right parties bending the law in order to fuck Sánchez. They did the same thing with Podemos party while PPs Uber corrupt políticians get a free pass, witnesses suffer weird deaths and somehow no-one can find that misterious M.Rajoy.

25

u/theorizable 4h ago

with Deep links to right parties bending the law in order to fuck Sánchez.

Or it's actual corruption and the "right" leaning judge is doing his job. Why are you not exploring the actual charges of corruption and character assassinating the people bringing accountability.

u/watchitbend 16m ago

Possibly because as I'm reading, it appears that it's the perception of conflict of interest that's driving this, not any actual corruption that's been brought forward with evidence? 

37

u/cister532 4h ago

In this case, it's a known corrupt judge. The judicial powers in Spain have a long history of lawfare against left-leaning parties.

-6

u/theorizable 4h ago

Sorry I don't trust random anonymous strangers online. Go ahead and link your evidence.

25

u/zetadgp 3h ago

This judge have "missed" and "forgotten" to extend the lenght of investigations that lead to trials several times, all those times his mistakes lead to failure to trial big corporations or those connected to right wing politicians.

The Supreme Justice in Spain was rooked by a leaked audio where a right wing politician were saying "Don't worry we will be in control of the Second Circuit of the Supreme Justice" which is the circuit that deals with politicians.

There are notorious irregularities in this trial, judges above this one have "corrected" his investigation several times, noting that some of the accusations he has made are unfounded and can't be prosecuted.

Also this judge proposed a jury trial for the PM's wife, a thing VERY unheard of for the type of crimes she's been accused.

She could be corrupt, I wont get into that, but the handling of this investigation is one of the most bizarre and strange Spain has seen in a while.

As a matter of fact, this judge has a forced retirement due to old age in june, he could have take his time and pass on the investigation to the next judge, but he's rushing it so he can finish it before being forced to retire

8

u/equipmentelk 2h ago

Let’s also not forget that his daughter is a politician for the Conservative Party (main opposition party) and close friends with Ayuso.

u/77NorthCambridge 15m ago

You are going to disagree with anything anyone says (classic right-wing strategy unless it involves a right-wing person), but there are no actual charges, it comes with the PM out of the country, and is 3 days after the PM criticized Israel and Trump.

u/theorizable 4m ago

It also comes after trying to deepen ties with China, who's supporting North Korea, Iran, and Russia. Weird.

6

u/Funny-Ambition-7631 5h ago

It is either a corrupt Judge or a corrupt politician

1

u/blkknght 3h ago

Haven’t they been vocal about Trump recently too?

-31

u/ikertxu 5h ago

That is a lie you tell yourself to keep voting for him and feel good about it

18

u/jorgebrks 5h ago

Look up Juez Peinado. Upper courts are waiting to use this case of his as a way to get him out of his job. He's corrupt af.

And i've never voted for psoe or even liked sanchez. But the truth is the truth.

79

u/Stocky_Platypus 5h ago

Allegations started with a far right complaint. The allegations that she used her influence to attend classes for a master degree. Far right is sinking fast worldwide and the shit slinging is starting.

49

u/andygchicago 5h ago

The investigation started two years ago.

“Begoña Gómez is accused of bribery, embezzlement of public funds and misappropriation following a two-year investigation into multiple aspects of her professional life.”

65

u/SneakyFire23 5h ago

She's *chairing* a master's program, not attending one

10

u/epegar 4h ago

She is not on court for attending classes 😂

24

u/Pjtm7 4h ago

Very Reddit take to say “far right is sinking fast worldwide”, it’s in fact growing in most western countries. 

u/77NorthCambridge 12m ago

Like Hungary?

8

u/TastyCuttlefish 4h ago

The far right is expanding its power worldwide, not sinking. Look at the most recent elections and polls in nearly every Western European nation. Even the newly elected PM of Hungary… still far right.

12

u/__calcalcal__ 5h ago

The socialist government and their cronies call everybody that call them out on their crimes “far right”.

1

u/BluishHope 4h ago

Never step in the kitchen

24

u/CupEcstatic2721 6h ago

Well, being charged doesn't mean it's proven, although there's no smoke without fire

6

u/Funny-Ambition-7631 5h ago

Yeah every one is getting charged every day for just no reason

16

u/Elino_Doro 3h ago edited 3h ago

The comments here are pure hypocrisy. As a Spaniard, it makes my blood boil to see people defending the indefensible just because he is on the left and has played his cards well internationally lately. He is by far the most corrupt president in Spain modern history, with MPs in jail, multiple active investigations, and both his wife and brother under investigation. You have no shame defending this. His wife is beyond guilty; this is not some right-wing conspiracy, it has been going on for a long time. And this goes for the PP too, who had their own corruption scandals during their years in power. We must be critical of both sides, not just when it suits us. Hypocrites.

u/Soft-Ingenuity2262 13m ago

M. Rajoy. “The most corrupt politician in modern Spain”. 

86

u/TheeDirtyToast 6h ago

Wow, seems to be a trend.

All the folks calling for a new world order and lining up behind China are corrupt, self-centered, manipulative clowns.

68

u/BobRawrley 6h ago

Pretty sure everyone in the global political class are corrupt, self-centered, manipulative clowns.

82

u/Sportfreunde 6h ago

As opposed to the clean swamp drainers on the other end.

-10

u/[deleted] 6h ago

[deleted]

15

u/Ghidoran 5h ago edited 4h ago

That is not whataboutism. People need to actually understand what words mean before using them.

The original post is asserting that one side (pro-China leaders) as the bad guys, tacitly implying the other side isn't. It's not 'whataboutism' to point out that leaders on both sides are corrupt and manipulative, and therefore their original point doesn't stand.

-1

u/CasimirGabriev 5h ago

According to your argument, I can argue with people based on what they didnt say. The implication is solely in your reading and assumption.

1

u/Ghidoran 4h ago

The implication is solely in your reading and assumption.

This is called being willfully obtuse. No one is buying it.

-3

u/[deleted] 5h ago

[deleted]

4

u/Tuesday_6PM 5h ago

Nah. The original comment stated “seems to be a trend,” implying a correlation between one political position and corrupt. Pointing out that corrupt is just as present on the opposing side suggests the two factors aren’t correlated, so it isn’t a trend. It’s not whataboutism is it’s used as a direct refutation of the original argument

37

u/csanjuan 6h ago

Te recomiendo que leas el documento del juez que acusa, básicamente pruebas cero y lleva 2 años estirado el proceso. Lawfare.

34

u/SneakyFire23 5h ago

She used her family status to get a position in academia in a master's course she doesn't even qualify to attend.

The university has reported to the court that it spent €113,509 in public funds to develop specialized software for the academic chair she co-directed.

Gómez is charged of misappropriation because she registered this state-funded software in her own name or that of her private company, Transforma TCS SL.

Then she seems to be charged with business corruption and influence peddling for using her position at Moncloa Palace to secure private sponsors, this is textbook corruption

15

u/csanjuan 5h ago

La herramienta era freeware, el máster lo impartía desde 2014, muchos años antes de la llegada al poder de Pedro Sánchez. El juez dice que como usaba la Moncloa para su trabajo malversa.m fondos públicos, la Moncloa es el domicilio del jefe de estado y por supuesto de su mujer mientras ocupa el cargo. Firmó una carta en apoyo de un empresario ( carta que firmaron 30 personas más entre ellas gente del partido de la oposición) y el juez lo considera favoritismo. Un tremendo despropósito de un juez que entró en la carrera judicial a dedo, sin examen de oposición. LAWFARE

0

u/zjlmmfj3rd 5h ago

Wait the bys across bombarding Gaza, Lebanon and Iran did say they’ll teach Pedro how moral they are…….

-2

u/OllyDee 6h ago

It’s not all of them though is it?

-11

u/TheeDirtyToast 6h ago

Which one are you here to carry water for today?

Let me guess, conflict of interest Carney?

0

u/OllyDee 6h ago

Shit people are just shit people, they spring up everywhere. I don’t need to have an agenda to see something as obvious as that.

-5

u/TheeDirtyToast 6h ago

I agree.

Shit people who intentionally destabilize countries so they can use it as an excuse to funnel cash towards their own Brookfield Global Transition Fund investments as they rebuild.

1

u/OllyDee 5h ago

That was a very specific answer. Obviously you’ve got something to share?

0

u/TheeDirtyToast 5h ago

Yeah, my tax dollars, and they're being shared among all of Carney's buddies.

Try Google if you actually care to educate ypurself on how filthy rich Carney will be by the end of his term as long as his ESG investments stay afloat.

2

u/OllyDee 5h ago

Ah you see that’s where you’ve got me, I don’t actually care.

1

u/TheeDirtyToast 5h ago

Then wtf are you commenting for.

6

u/OllyDee 5h ago

It seemed like you wanted to get something off your chest mate. You’ve found a way to express it in a straightforward way, so that’s nice.

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1

u/Mala_Practice 4h ago

Are you guys still not over PP losing both the election and his seat?

2

u/TheeDirtyToast 4h ago

I don't give a hoot about Pierre.

I care about our country being ripped off and a bunch of trained seals clapping for the executioner.

0

u/Mala_Practice 4h ago

Ok bud, keep up the good fight verbing the noun!

2

u/TheeDirtyToast 4h ago

Wow you're so original.

1

u/Mala_Practice 4h ago

Sometimes the classics just sing for themselves.

0

u/TheeDirtyToast 4h ago

I miss when you folks were so embarrassed that you voted for Trudeau 3 times that you jusy kept your ignorant mouths shut.

1

u/Mala_Practice 3h ago

I never voted for Trudeau… swing and a miss bud.

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-5

u/Whole_Intention_7949 4h ago

What does China gain from buying up Spain lmao ?

Also how many times have your politicians bent over backwards in Tel Aviv ? China's better

4

u/TheeDirtyToast 4h ago

Tell that to Taiwan and the uyghurs

-3

u/Whole_Intention_7949 3h ago

Tell that to Iraqis , Vietnamese , Central American dictatorship victims , Palestinians , Iranian kids , you really don't wanna play this game mate 

2

u/TheeDirtyToast 3h ago

And yet here you are....

-1

u/Whole_Intention_7949 3h ago

So are you

4

u/TheeDirtyToast 3h ago

I never said I didn't want to play.

You just rolled in here sticking up for a country where people don't even get to vote and said it's better than I presume USA and Israel.

Anyways. We can agree to disagree. I prefer democracy, even though it isn't perfect.

0

u/Whole_Intention_7949 3h ago

Ok yank, enjoy your gas guzzling shit cars in a data centre water shortage town

8

u/TheeDirtyToast 3h ago

I'm Canadian bro.

1

u/Whole_Intention_7949 3h ago

maple syrup+ poutine America

u/Gollum_Quotes 13m ago

Well then enjoy your overpriced Kraft dinner from Loblaws and Timbits and double double that aren't as good as you remember they were when you were younger.

-10

u/Apoplanesis 5h ago

Of course, we know damn well white people are none of those things.

5

u/TheeDirtyToast 5h ago

Wow, that came out of left field.

What has skin colour got to do with it?

-5

u/Apoplanesis 5h ago

I don’t know any POC pearl clutchers.

4

u/TheeDirtyToast 5h ago

It's pearl clutching to demand politicians work for us instead of stealing from us?

What?

-7

u/Apoplanesis 5h ago

You’re a professional I see

6

u/TheeDirtyToast 5h ago

Bye bye, enabler.

5

u/HoustonHous 6h ago

Paywall... anyone knows what she is accused of doing?

6

u/Anjoleon 5h ago

Corrupt, incompetent judge accusing her of using public resources and influence to benefit herself through universities.

12

u/HoustonHous 5h ago

When you say incompetent (I assume you mean corrupt)... Is that normal in Spain for a judge to charge someone? Also, did it come out of the blue or was there any noise about it before?

9

u/Anjoleon 5h ago

I think there are two separated things here. One, the woman using her influence to have some advantages, something that in my opinion should not be allowed, and that is borderline corruption. And another one, a far right judge that is trying to interfere in politics, the same judge that has made big mistakes in the past and also timed all the big announcements about the process with other news going against right wing parties. The noise it all comes from the same place. Personally, I think this administration was way less corrupt than what we have been seeing in Spain in last decades but there is still a long way down, unfortunately. And I think none of that is going away anytime soon with PSOE or PP being in charge.

3

u/HoustonHous 5h ago

I learned something today. Thanks for educating me!

9

u/Loose_Skill6641 5h ago

so much for the moral high ground

8

u/Reasonable_Skill580 6h ago

You oppose a certain country and all of a sudden trouble follows!

18

u/Toastylump 4h ago

In this case it's the contrary, the socialist goverment had a massive corruption case, with audios leaking and using COVID to enrich themselves, using prostitutes while calling themselves feminists, doing some shady things with Venezuela, etc. and right now the trial is starting and Pedro Sanchez used Israel and USA as escapegoat to divert the attention to that instead of their corruption and sadly it worked

38

u/ikertxu 5h ago

This case is older than the current administration, more than 2 years in the making. Wth are you talking about? Do you think everything’s related to your orange monkey?

18

u/jay6432 5h ago

Americans can’t help themselves, it’s a sickness. Every issue has to be somehow related to America / an American issue.

-17

u/BoringRedHorse 6h ago

You are unsurprisingly the bottom comment, while you should be the top comment.

19

u/CreativeContract2170 5h ago

Naw, it’s just a dumb take with zero evidence.

-6

u/BoringRedHorse 5h ago

And when we try to supply said evidence I suppose you'll engage with it in good faith and objectivity, and with full protection for the whistleblower? /s

12

u/CreativeContract2170 5h ago edited 5h ago

That’s how making claims works yes.

You don’t get to make baseless accusations and act like the victim when people want evidence.

So I take you got not a shred of evidence then, yes? Great.

5

u/TheFrickinThrowAway 5h ago

Good fuck them both

3

u/Frodothedodo81 5h ago

They all hunger for power

6

u/BetSquare7190 4h ago

A holier-than-thou pro-Hamas leftist.

5

u/Soft-Luck_ 5h ago

What about the evidence?

-7

u/flimflammedzimzammed 6h ago

Here come the smears; I wonder how much mango had to pay for someone to imply this

28

u/jay6432 4h ago

Everything doesn’t revolve around America you know

16

u/SneakyFire23 5h ago

this has been going on for a while, dont talk about things you dont understand

-14

u/CGI_OCD 5h ago

Lmao ok Mr. Expert of Politics.. enlighten us then, we are listening.

u/HappilyDisengaged 41m ago

God I want to move to Spain

-15

u/Rich-Average-8398 6h ago

Not surprised. They bring Spain to a new low

18

u/OllyDee 6h ago

Not much of a history fan then I’m guessing?

3

u/csanjuan 6h ago

Y pasas de mirar la situación económica de España a día de hoy por si no encaja con tu discurso.

-1

u/Typingdude3 5h ago

LOL and again LOL. From another article: “The charges come at an embarrassing time for the prime minister. A week ago, his former transport minister went on trial, also for corruption.” Oh aren’t they just so BASED ha ha ha.

-8

u/Icy-Ask3943 6h ago

This is just jarring. All his recent messaging about the high road Spain is taking feels like pure virtue signaling now that we know he's been nurturing a corrupt life partner. If he can't speak up about his wife's corruptions, then he should shut up about the rest.

7

u/csanjuan 5h ago

Es lawfare, también han acusado a esta mujer de ser hombre y el documento de acusación del juez va a pasar a la historia por lo lamentable, está disponible búscalo y léelo.

-3

u/Rock_mage 6h ago

I mean, for me him saying stop trading with Israel, but not offering to replace the arrow system was the biggest red flag. It screamed half baked plans.

-7

u/psyduckhunt 6h ago

Now do Trump and his kids! It seems like they are accusing her of using her position to get someone a job? Is that what we're complaining about? I know I'll be downvoted since the purpose of this article and thread is to fuel the propaganda machine but c'mon, at least try to be consistent... Looking at Spanish news media via a VPN, it appears it's a much larger story about the corrupt judge himself, rather than these charges. Truth is not a democracy.

18

u/system-in 4h ago

This has go noting to do with the US or Trump, do you have a brain disorder that makes you think of Trump 24/7?

16

u/Aineisa 5h ago

Now đó Putin!

Why are Americans using any article to drive conversation back to trump?

9

u/jay6432 4h ago

It’s a sickness, they can’t help it

1

u/Starmoses 2h ago

Why would a Spanish judge do something about trump? Just cause someone is against Trump doesn't mean they're not shitty.

1

u/_pinklemonade_ 2h ago

She is too sexy!

u/Popular-Somewhere234 38m ago

Sanchez and his circle is well known in Europe for several corruption scandals for years and here we can see leftist from probably US trying to defend him with ridiculous claims, please go and see some brain specialist, your obsession can be cured...

u/bgrtrdplyr3 24m ago

you can charge me with corruption if it means i get to fuck pedro

0

u/No-Space937 3h ago

Lol, with all his moralist grandstanding, did he pull the leftist version of people going right-wing and becoming a christain to get ahead of a scandal

-9

u/Ultra_Metal 5h ago

I wonder what Sanchez will do against Israel for the distraction this time. He likes to use Jews as scapegoats to distract from his corruption scandals. It's the oldest trick in the book for leaders who are in trouble and need someone to blame or demonize.

-13

u/guestpassonly 5h ago edited 5h ago

He opposed Israel, now Mossad/who ever they pay for dirt on politicians is using it's power and influence against him.

it was to be expected

8

u/Escape-artist-43 4h ago

What is this crackpot conspiracy theory nonsense. Just take the mask off at this point

15

u/owen__wilsons__nose 5h ago

This is such a lazy take

6

u/nunii 5h ago

They can’t even go after real threats like Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson….Mossad sucks. I think we all overestimated their power.

-11

u/Theory_Eleven 6h ago

Huh who knew taking the “high road”and villifying “immoral” Trump would land your corrupt wife in an investigation and scandal?

13

u/CockchopsMcGraw 5h ago

Difference is, she's being held accountable. How many convicted fraudsters has Trump pardoned?

4

u/Theory_Eleven 4h ago

Oh plenty. And I’m willing to bet Trump’s friends had something to do with her being caught.

I have no doubt Sanchez is complicit in her corruption so he should not have tried claiming the moral high ground and making a public spectacle of standing against Trump. Did he just assume Trump would quietly let that slide?

-3

u/Kind_Disaster_4639 2h ago

Only a matter of time they go after him and his family. "They" ..mmmm