A Spanish judge has denied Begoña Gómez permission to attend a NATO summit in Ankara, ruling that Turkey's absence from the EU's area of freedom, security, and justice precludes adequate police and judicial cooperation. Gómez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, had been invited by Emine Erdoğan, the Turkish president's spouse.
Judge Antonio Viejo, substituting for Judge Juan Carlos Peinado — who imposed precautionary measures including passport surrender and a travel ban — authorised Gómez to travel to London from 8 to 10 July for her daughter's graduation, citing strong judicial cooperation between Spain and the United Kingdom.
Gómez faces charges of embezzlement, influence-peddling, and business corruption linked to a university chair. Government minister Félix Bolaños criticised the ruling, insisting there is no flight risk, while opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo warned it damages Spain's reputation at the summit.