Madrid judge presses Begoña Gómez defense to hold preliminary hearing before vacation

The scheduling dispute and tight deadlines

Judge Juan Carlos Peinado of Madrid Court of Instruction No. 41 has scheduled a preliminary hearing for Tuesday, 8 September 2026, at 18:00, seeking to complete the final procedural step before sending Begoña Gómez to trial before a jury. The magistrate issued the summons on Monday with approximately 24 hours of advance notice, prompting immediate postponement requests from the defense teams of both Gómez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and her Moncloa advisor Cristina Álvarez. Peinado urged Gómez's lead attorney, Jaime Campaner, to designate a substitute counsel to avoid delaying the session. Judicial sources from the Madrid Superior Court of Justice indicated that while the defendants must be summoned personally, their physical presence at this preliminary stage is not mandatory. Peinado also rejected a defense petition to call José Manuel Ruano, co-director of the Complutense University chair, ruling that witness testimony is unnecessary for deciding on the trial order.

Judicial retirement and calendar constraints

The urgency behind the swift scheduling stems from Peinado's impending judicial calendar. The judge begins an approved leave period running from Wednesday, 9 September, through 18 September 2026, and faces mandatory retirement upon turning 72 on 27 September. In his written resolution, Peinado argued that failing to hold the hearing on Tuesday would leave the proceeding unscheduled for an indefinite period. He noted that if defense counsel insists on personal attendance, an alternative date would need to be identified.

If despite everything any of the lawyers considers that their presence at the preliminary hearing is essential, another date would have to be found that cannot be specified at this time.

Defense objections and logistical conflicts

The defense arguments detail specific scheduling conflicts that prevent personal attendance on Tuesday evening. Campaner, who resides in Palma de Mallorca, purchased an airline ticket on 22 July to travel to Barcelona on Tuesday afternoon for another court proceeding on Wednesday, though he offered availability during the week of 21 September. Meanwhile, counsel for Álvarez stated that she is on vacation abroad until 28 September, with scheduled medical appointments in Miami, before returning to Spain. Her legal team argued that the 24-hour notice impairs the preparation required for an essential procedural step and infringes on the right to an effective defense.

Legal scope of the upcoming jury trial

The preliminary hearing represents the formal prerequisite for issuing an oral trial order under Spain's Jury Court Law. In July, the Provincial Court of Madrid narrowed the scope of the case by dismissing charges of business corruption and misappropriation, while also excluding businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés from the proceedings. Gómez faces charges of influence peddling and embezzlement, whereas Álvarez faces embezzlement allegations. While the public prosecution service advocates for complete acquittal, the popular prosecution organization Hazte Oír seeks severe prison sentences for both defendants.

Following the conclusion of the preliminary hearing, the presiding judge will decide within three days whether to formally issue the decree opening the oral jury trial.