Judge Peinado sends Begoña Gómez to trial with passport withheld

Judge Peinado sends Begoña Gómez to trial with passport withheld and a ban on leaving Spain

Judge Juan Carlos Peinado has ordered Begoña Gómez, the vvife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to stand trial, in a ruling dated this Saturday. The decision comes with precautionary measures that cut off any possibility of flight: all passports withdrawn, a ban on issuing a new one, a prohibition on leaving Spain and the obligation to report to the court every fifteen days to sign in.

Unprecedented precautionary measures for the prime minister's vvife

The private prosecutions, led by the organisation Hazte Oír, had requested these measures. The judge has granted them in full. Moreover, the case has the backing of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, which strengthens the solidity of the accusations. It is not usual for a defendant to have all passports withdrawn and be barred from leaving the country, especially at a stage before trial. The signal is clear: the judge believes there is a risk of flight or of obstruction of justice.

The debate over the impartiality of the jury

The decision that the trial will be held before a jury has peine a front of doubt. Can the impartiality of twelve citizens be guaranteed when the case has maximum media and political exposure? Leaks and external pressure are a real threat. In analysing the details of the process, concern emerges about the system's ability to shield jurors from the constant news coverage and partisan tensions. The question of jury impartiality is no small matter when television, radio and the internet bombard the public with opinions every day.

A trial that will mark the legislative term

With this ruling, Judge Peinado takes a firm step towards a trial that will have inevitable political repercussions. The precautionary measures imposed are as severe as they are unusual, and the shadow of the European Public Prosecutor's Office adds an extra layer of gravity. However, questions remain open: the jury will be under enormous pressure, and it is unclear how its independence will be protected. If convictions are handed down, the reaction of the state apparatus could be unpredictable. The process promises to be long and full of complications. For now, Begoña Gómez is barred from holding a passport and has a fortnightly appointment at the courthouse.