Guardian

Former Spanish PM under criminal investigation as €53m bailout of airline examined

Partido Popular

El PP denuncia que la corrupcin salpica a Snchez, al PSOE y al Gobierno desde la A de balos a la Z de Zapatero

BBC News

Spanish Prime Minister's wife charged with corruption after two year investigation

Politico

Spanish court charges key Snchez ally with money laundering

OCCRP

Spains Former PM Investigated in Airline Bailout Probe

EL PAÍS English

What is former Spanish PM Zapatero accused of?: Inside the Plus Ultra case

European Conservative

Former Spanish PM Zapatero Named in Corruption Probe

PSOE

DolorsMM

Al Jazeera

Spain’s former PM Zapatero faces corruption probe

The Times

Spain’s ex-prime minister investigated in money-laundering case

Financial Times

Former Spanish PM Zapatero targeted in corruption probe

General Council of the Judiciary

The National Court summons former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero as a suspect in crimes of influence peddling and other related offenses.

Euractiv

Former Spanish Pm Under Investigation For Money Laundering

Independent

Former Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero under investigation for role in airline bailout

The Straits Times

Spanish prime minister's brother to stand trial accused of influence peddling

Spain's National Court judge, José Luis Calama, on Tuesday summoned former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to appear as a suspect on June 2, marking the first time since Spain's transition to democracy that a former prime minister has been formally investigated in a corruption-related criminal inquiry.

Spain's National Court judge, José Luis Calama, on Tuesday summoned former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to appear as a suspect on June 2, marking the first time since Spain's transition to democracy that a former prime minister has been formally investigated in a corruption-related criminal inquiry.

Court documents allege Zapatero led "a stable and hierarchical influence-peddling structure" tied to the €53 million (roughly $63 million) state bailout of the airline Plus Ultra in 2021, with police searching his Madrid office and three other premises on Tuesday.

Court documents allege Zapatero led "a stable and hierarchical influence-peddling structure" tied to the €53 million (roughly $63 million) state bailout of the airline Plus Ultra in 2021, with police searching his Madrid office and three other premises on Tuesday.

The Spanish government approved the bailout during the COVID-19 pandemic through Spain's state holding company SEPI after designating the airline a strategic asset. Critics, however, questioned the airline's financial viability and its links to Venezuelan investors.

The Spanish government approved the bailout during the COVID-19 pandemic through Spain's state holding company SEPI after designating the airline a strategic asset. Critics, however, questioned the airline's financial viability and its links to Venezuelan investors.

Prosecutors are examining whether the bailout funds were used to launder money from Venezuela through an international scheme stretching across Spain, France and Switzerland, allegedly involving "shell companies, falsified documents and opaque financial channels."

Prosecutors are examining whether the bailout funds were used to launder money from Venezuela through an international scheme stretching across Spain, France and Switzerland, allegedly involving "shell companies, falsified documents and opaque financial channels."

As part of this, Calama suspects Zapatero helped Julio Martínez Martínez, a businessman arrested in December, establish at least one offshore company in Dubai a week after Martínez's company, Idella Consulenza Strategica, signed a contract with Plus Ultra in January 2021 to receive 1% of the bailout money, to funnel the payment.

As part of this, Calama suspects Zapatero helped Julio Martínez Martínez, a businessman arrested in December, establish at least one offshore company in Dubai a week after Martínez's company, Idella Consulenza Strategica, signed a contract with Plus Ultra in January 2021 to receive 1% of the bailout money, to funnel the payment.

In a video statement, Zapatero denied any wrongdoing or having received payment from Plus Ultra. The case adds pressure on current Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, whose wife and brother also face separate allegations of influence peddling, which they both deny.

In a video statement, Zapatero denied any wrongdoing or having received payment from Plus Ultra. The case adds pressure on current Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, whose wife and brother also face separate allegations of influence peddling, which they both deny.

Guardian #4100

Partido Popular #

BBC News #

Politico #

OCCRP #

EL PAÍS English #

European Conservative #

Al Jazeera #2553

The Times #

Financial Times #

General Council of the Judiciary #

Euractiv #

Independent #854

The Straits Times #

On Tuesday, Spain's National Court judge, José Luis Calama, summoned former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to appear as a suspect on June 2, marking the first time since Spain's transition to democracy that a former prime minister has been formally investigated in a corruption-related criminal inquiry.

On Tuesday, Spain's National Court judge, José Luis Calama, summoned former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to appear as a suspect on June 2, marking the first time since Spain's transition to democracy that a former prime minister has been formally investigated in a corruption-related criminal inquiry.

Court documents allege Zapatero led "a stable and hierarchical influence-peddling structure" tied to the €53 million (now roughly $63 million) state bailout of the airline Plus Ultra in 2021, with police searching his Madrid office and three other premises on Tuesday.

Court documents allege Zapatero led "a stable and hierarchical influence-peddling structure" tied to the €53 million (now roughly $63 million) state bailout of the airline Plus Ultra in 2021, with police searching his Madrid office and three other premises on Tuesday.

It is important to remember that, under Spanish law, Zapatero is innocent until proven guilty. While the PSOE will cooperate fully with the justice system in this matter, it does not forget that Zapatero was the leader who delivered the greatest social transformation in Spain's modern history, and for which he will have the PSOE's full support.

It is important to remember that, under Spanish law, Zapatero is innocent until proven guilty. While the PSOE will cooperate fully with the justice system in this matter, it does not forget that Zapatero was the leader who delivered the greatest social transformation in Spain's modern history, and for which he will have the PSOE's full support.

This development not only signifies Zapatero's fall from grace but also the extent to which the PSOE has allowed corruption to permeate the highest levels of government. With 15 corruption schemes uncovered so far, Spain cannot allow this abuse of power and position to go unanswered — elections are overdue, and change is needed.

This development not only signifies Zapatero's fall from grace but also the extent to which the PSOE has allowed corruption to permeate the highest levels of government. With 15 corruption schemes uncovered so far, Spain cannot allow this abuse of power and position to go unanswered — elections are overdue, and change is needed.

Dolors Montserrat

Alex Zea/Europa Press via Getty Images

Spain's Ex-PM Zapatero Summoned in Corruption Probe

Spain

Crime & justice

Politics

Under Spanish law, Zapatero is innocent until proven guilty. While the PSOE will cooperate fully with the justice system in this matter, it does not forget that Zapatero was the leader who delivered the greatest social transformation in Spain's modern history. Given his record, Zapatero will have the PSOE's full support.

Under Spanish law, Zapatero is innocent until proven guilty. While the PSOE will cooperate fully with the justice system in this matter, it does not forget that Zapatero was the leader who delivered the greatest social transformation in Spain's modern history. Given his record, Zapatero will have the PSOE's full support.

Pedro Sanchez

Alex Zea/Europa Press/Getty Images

Alex Zea/Europa Press/Getty Images

Spain's Ex-PM Zapatero Summoned in Corruption Probe

Spain's Ex-PM Zapatero Summoned in Corruption Probe

The Spin

Public Figures

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Spain's Ex-PM Zapatero Summoned in Corruption Probe

Spain's Ex-PM Zapatero Summoned in Corruption Probe

The Spin

Public Figures

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters