Bolaños believes that the judicial response to the 'Begoña Gómez case' is neither adequate nor forceful

Félix Bolaños, Spain’s minister of the Presidency, Justice, and Relations with the Courts, has criticized the judicial response to the case involving Begoña Gómez, wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, as neither adequate nor forceful enough. The case centers around charges of influence peddling and misappropriation brought against her by Judge Juan Carlos Peinado. On Thursday, the Provincial Court of Madrid ordered the continuation of the trial by jury, while dismissing two other charges related to business corruption and unauthorized appropriation. Bolaños expressed his concerns during an interview with Cadena SER, stating that the judicial system's handling of the case had been insufficient given its apparent lack of substance. The judge who initially launched the investigation, Juan Carlos Peinado, has faced repeated reversals by higher courts, including the Supreme Court and the Provincial Court of Madrid, which have overturned his decisions 16 times. According to Bolaños, this pattern suggests a judicial system that, despite being robust and aligned with European standards, has produced rulings that are both incomprehensible and far removed from established legal principles. He argued that such rulings have harmed both the judiciary and individuals affected by them. Bolaños emphasized that the case against Begoña Gómez has dragged on for two years since the initial complaint was filed. He described the complainants as members of an ultra-right organization seeking to target Gómez due to her association with the prime minister and her progressive views. The minister noted that the complaint should have been dismissed immediately under existing Supreme Court jurisprudence, yet it proceeded through the legal process, leading to prolonged litigation. In addition to commenting on the ongoing case, Bolaños addressed the European Court of Justice's ruling regarding the amnesty law aimed at resolving tensions stemming from Catalonia's independence movement. He stated there were no longer doubts about the law's compliance with EU regulations and urged its swift application to Catalan separatist leaders. This, he claimed, would represent the final stage in achieving political, institutional, and social normalization in Catalonia. According to reports, over 2,846 residents of Madrid have already been preselected to serve as potential jurors in the trial against Begoña Gómez. The selection process will determine the nine individuals who will ultimately form the jury. Details on how these selections will be made remain unclear, though the court is expected to follow standard procedures for jury composition in high-profile cases. The case has drawn significant attention due to the involvement of a prominent political figure's spouse, raising questions about the impartiality of the judicial process. Bolaños reiterated his belief that the justice system must be sufficiently resilient to quickly overturn rulings deemed unjust or legally unsound, thereby preventing damage to the judiciary's reputation. He called for greater confidence in the system's ability to correct itself swiftly rather than allowing questionable decisions to linger and affect public perception. The minister also highlighted the broader implications of the amnesty law, describing it as a collective achievement benefiting all citizens. He supported the government's decision to return the independence issue to the political sphere, arguing it should never have entered the legal domain in the first place. His comments underscored the complex interplay between legal processes, political dynamics, and public trust in the judiciary.