Spanish government slams judge's 'arbitrary' ban on PM's wife attending NATO summit, insists zero flight risk

The judicial decision

Judge Antonio Viejo, standing in for the vacationing instructor Juan Carlos Peinado, ruled on 6 July that Begoña Gómez, wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, may travel to London from 8 to 10 July for her daughter's graduation but cannot accompany her husband to the NATO summit in Ankara. The judge argued that Turkey 'does not belong to the space of freedom, security and justice of the European Union' and that Gómez has no active role at the summit, while the UK offers good judicial cooperation even after Brexit. The decision upholds precautionary measures imposed earlier by Peinado: withdrawal of her passport and a requirement to sign in at court every two weeks.

Government's reaction

From the Moncloa press room after the Cabinet meeting, Bolaños called the measures 'simple and plainly unnecessary' and described the Ankara-London distinction as 'arbitrary'. He stressed that neither the UK nor Turkey is part of the EU's justice area, yet Spain maintains 'extraordinary judicial and police cooperation' with both. The minister revealed he met Turkey's justice minister in Madrid weeks ago and plans a return visit in the coming months.

Given that the risk is zero, the precautionary measures are, as the legal community has determined and I join with all legal arguments, simply and plainly unnecessary.

Flight risk debate

The government's core argument is that Gómez poses 'zero risk' of evading justice because she is permanently surrounded by national police officers. Bolaños insisted that precautionary measures require a genuine flight risk, which he says does not exist. Magistrate Joaquim Bosch, commenting on television, questioned the proportionality: if there is no serious probability of escape, any restriction of fundamental rights would be disproportionate. He noted that defendants facing years in prison in other trials have not had their passports withdrawn.

Is there really a serious probability that Begoña Gómez could flee? If not, any limitation of her rights would be disproportionate.

Political fallout and judicial distrust

The row unfolds against a backdrop of declining trust in the judiciary. A recent CIS survey found that nine out of ten Spaniards believe the justice system does not treat politicians equally, and 77% doubt its impartiality in party-related matters. Columnist Juan Soto Ivars blamed the government and its allied media for sowing suspicion, while Bolaños argued that a small number of 'incomprehensible' rulings by some judges fuel public distrust. He also urged regulation of the popular accusation mechanism to prevent its 'spurious' and 'anti-democratic' use by far-right organisations like Hazte Oír.

Next steps

Gómez has appealed the precautionary measures, and government sources told ABC they are confident the Provincial Court will revoke them at a hearing scheduled for 13 July. The NATO summit proceeds without her; Sánchez arrived in Ankara on Tuesday evening. The London trip remains authorised for 8–10 July.