Pedro Sánchez lived off father-in-law’s ‘gay brothels’, say opponents.
The Spanish PM has come under increasing pressure to resign as the leader of the conservative opposition accuses him of profiting from alleged prostitution.
Thursday July 10 2025, 2.05pm BST, The Times
Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has been accused in parliament of profiting from the proceeds of gay brothels reportedly run by his father-in-law, ratcheting up a political furore.
Alberto Feijóo, the leader of the conservative Popular Party (PP), alluded in parliament to gay saunas and brothels allegedly run by Sabiniano Gómez, the father of Sánchez’s wife.
Until now, mainstream politicians had refrained from invoking Gómez’s murky past, but, in front of a packed chamber debating corruption allegations rocking the government, Feijóo accused Sánchez of benefiting from the business.
The opposition leader called Sánchez “a lucrative participant in the abominable business of prostitution”, asking pointedly: “But what brothels have you lived off?”
Alberto Feijóo justified the accusations by saying that prostitution was part of the scandal surrounding Sánchez
VIOLETA SANTOS MOURA/REUTERS
Feijóo was referring to reports that Sabiniano Gómez used the profits from his sauna business to buy a Madrid flat where Sánchez and his wife, Begoña Gómez, lived until their move to the prime minister’s residence. Sánchez has never publicly responded to the brothel accusations.
The statement resulted in shouting in parliament as the ruling Socialist party and the allies of their minority government condemned Feijóo’s remarks as a breach of political decency and for “crossing a red line”. A senior Socialist minister described the attack as “miserable” and in breach of parliamentary standards.
Feijóo’s party justified the accusation by saying that prostitution was a key part of a scandal threatening to topple Sánchez’s government. The prime minister has been fighting for his political survival after Santos Cerdán, his right-hand man, was held without bail on suspicion of bribery, criminal conspiracy and influence peddling two weeks ago
Santos Cerdán with Sánchez after the prime minister’s re-election in 2023
SUSANA VERA/REUTERS
Cerdán, the former number three of the ruling Socialist party, was detained as part of a wider investigation into kickbacks on state contracts. The embarrassment has been worsened by audio recordings allegedly of two of the accused, a former Socialist minister and his aide, discussing sharing prostitutes, whose services and attributes they discuss in detail. They all deny wrongdoing.
Sánchez’s own policy to ban prostitution in Spain has been tarnished by the recordings and the revival of allegations that his father-in-law ran a network of brothels. Feijóo said the prime minister “wants to ban his own biography”.
Right-wing media first reported on the alleged brothels. They claim that Gómez ran a sprawling network of gay saunas, clubs and purported brothels dating back to the late 1980s. Sabiniano has not made a formal denial of ownership of the establishments or their links to prostitution, but his associates have denied that they were illegal.
It remains to be seen whether this turning point in the political debate strengthens Feijóo’s hand or damages him.
“Pedro Sánchez’s family matters have become public given that his wife is charged with four crimes,” said Ester Muñoz, the PP spokeswoman.
Begoña Gómez, Sánchez’s wife, and his brother, David, are facing charges of alleged corruption and influence-peddling.
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