Spain’s Prime Minister Faces Scrutiny Over Family’s Past Ties to Gay Saunas

Madrid, July 11, 2025 – Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is under renewed political pressure this week following controversial claims made in Parliament about his late father-in-law’s past involvement with several gay sauna venues in Madrid.

During a heated session in Congress on Tuesday, opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo accused Sánchez of financially benefiting from businesses he described as “gay brothels,” run by Sánchez’s father-in-law, Sabiniano Gómez. Feijóo asked pointedly, “What brothels have you lived off?”, a remark that drew sharp criticism from across the political spectrum.

Saunas, Not Brothels

Despite the rhetoric, the venues in question were not illegal operations. According to a 2024 ruling by Spain’s Audiencia Nacional, the businesses were legally registered saunas and adult clubs, operating primarily as part of Madrid’s gay nightlife scene between the 1980s and early 2000s.

Among the most well-known venues was Sauna Adán, located on Calle San Bernardo. Others reportedly included Sauna Azul and Sauna Princesa. All were operated under legitimate leases with MUFACE, Spain’s public mutual insurance provider, and no evidence of criminal activity has been found related to the businesses or their management.

LGBTQ+ Spaces Caught in the Crossfire

These allegations have sparked concern within Spain’s LGBTQ+ community, many of whom see the use of gay venues as a political attack as outdated and discriminatory.

“Gay saunas have long been part of urban queer life, especially in cities like Madrid,” said one cultural historian who studies LGBTQ+ nightlife in Spain. “To use their existence as a way to discredit a political figure in 2025 reflects deeply ingrained stigmas.”

Supporters of Sánchez have called Feijóo’s comments a smear campaign rooted in homophobia, while members of smaller parties like Más País and the Basque PNV have criticized the tone of the debate.

No Evidence of Personal Gain

To date, no official documents or records have shown that Sánchez personally received money from the sauna businesses. Claims suggesting that property linked to the Sánchez family was purchased using those funds remain unverified.

The origins of the controversy trace back over a decade, when information about the family businesses began circulating in media reports and recordings linked to former police commissioner José Manuel Villarejo. A Spanish court has since dismissed those claims, ruling the sauna operations as part of a lawful and private enterprise.

Political Implications

The Popular Party has called for a formal investigation into whether public funds or property were used inappropriately in connection with the venues. Sánchez has so far remained measured in his response, reiterating his government’s stance against prostitution and defending his family against what he described as politically motivated attacks.

Whether this controversy will have a lasting impact on Sánchez’s leadership remains to be seen. But as public discussion grows, so too does the spotlight on how queer history and LGBTQ+ spaces are portrayed—and weaponized—in national politics.