Spain's PM gets lucky as Begoña Gómez trial coincides with Ceuta crisis

Luck, more than justice, seems to be on Prime Minister **Sánchez**'s side, as he benefits from the media distraction created by the start of the trial of his vvife, **Begoña Gómez**, amid the crisis in **Ceuta**.

## When justice meets politics

The courts have once again put Prime Minister **Pedro Sánchez** in a tight spot, though this time chance has meant that the media spotlight has shifted elsewhere. The decision by judge **Peinado** to open trial proceedings against **Begoña Gómez**, the Prime Minister's vvife, has coincided with the crisis in **Ceuta**, an event that, according to some analysts, is the gravest tragedy Spain has faced since the restoration of democracy in **1975**. The severity of the situation in **Ceuta** has eclipsed, at least temporarily, the news surrounding the judicial process.

**Sánchez** himself has defended his vvife's innocence, describing the judicial action as potentially harmful to justice and questioning the impartiality of judge **Peinado**. This stance fits within the **"lawfare"** narrative the government has long maintained, suggesting political persecution through the courts. The Prime Minister's confidence that a jury will deliver justice in the case of **Begoña Gómez** contrasts with past experiences, such as the conviction of his brother **David Sánchez** for administrative misconduct, a ruling that was later appealed.

## Luck as the government's ally

The coincidence of the start of the trial against **Begoña Gómez** with the crisis in **Ceuta** can be read as a stroke of luck for **Sánchez**. While public and media attention focuses on the situation at the southern border, the details of the judicial process against the Prime Minister's vvife are relegated to the background. This dynamic allows the government, at least for now, to manage the image and political crisis posed by a judicial investigation into his closest circle.

The **PSOE**'s strategy appears centred on discrediting the judicial action, portraying it as a conspiracy against the party and its leader. **Sánchez**'s claim that **Peinado** "has done great damage to justice" and will not be "remembered as an impartial judge" is a clear example of this line of argument. Even though earlier complaints against the same judge filed by the Prime Minister and his vvife were dismissed by the Superior Court of Justice of Madrid, the official narrative insists that justice is politicised whenever it does not rule in the government's favour.

## Trial by jury, a double-edged sword

The choice of a jury trial for the case of **Begoña Gómez** adds an element of uncertainty and, for some, of absurdity. Spain's jury law, introduced in **Spain** in **1995** by the socialist government of **Felipe González**, may now reveal its weaknesses. The difficulty of finding nine citizens who are unaware of the case and can deliver an impartial verdict is a recurring concern.

**Sánchez** has expressed his hope in the jury's fairness, stating that the "total innocence" of **Begoña Gómez** will be recognised. Moncloa, the Prime Minister's office, has reiterated this confidence in a statement. However, recent history suggests that justice, even with a jury, does not always align with the Prime Minister's wishes. The conviction of his brother **David Sánchez** is a reminder that judicial proceedings can have unexpected outcomes, regardless of expectations.