Wife of Spanish PM skips trial-notification hearing

Gomez -- who can appeal the trial recommendation -- cited a legal instruction saying that such "notification" hearings did not require the presence of the indicted party and she was represented by her lawyer, the source said.

The judge investigating the case against her had summoned Gomez to officially tell her that his preliminary investigation showed a jury trial was warranted.

He has been investigating allegations that Gomez used a state-funded assistant she had as Sanchez's wife to do work for her when she held a position at Madrid's Complutense University.

Gomez denied wrongdoing during a September 10 court appearance before the judge, Juan Carlos Peinado.

But the long-running probe has proven an embarrassment for the leftist premier and put his minority coalition under pressure.

Gomez's assistant, Cristina Alvarez, and the person who hired her -- also indicted -- did not show either to the hearing, sending their lawyers instead.

Both the prosecution and the defence teams have called for the case to be dismissed, saying the accused are not civil servants.

The judge is expected to give his decision in the coming days.

In a preliminary ruling made public on Wednesday, Peinado said the investigation suggested that Alvarez had "clearly" appeared to exceed her duties as an employee in Sanchez's office.

He said Gomez's "personal friendship" with Alvarez was the reason for her appointment.

The judge is also investigating whether Gomez exploited her position as Sanchez's wife for private benefit after complaints by groups with far-right ties.

Two heavyweight politicians in Sanchez's Socialist party have also come under the judge's crosshairs, as has Sanchez's younger brother.

Sanchez on Wednesday said he was confident that "the truth will ultimately prevail" and that his wife and brother would be found innocent.

He has railed against what he said are "false accusations" designed to destabilise his government.