Former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero testified Wednesday before Audiencia Nacional judge José Luis Calama in the Plus Ultra airline rescue case.
Zapatero denied exerting any influence to secure the 53 million euros public rescue granted to Plus Ultra during the pandemic. He stated he did not contact officials or authorities and did not recall a meal at the Portonovo restaurant where an offshore company in Dubai was allegedly agreed upon.
The former president refused to answer questions about the jewels valued at 1.3 million euros found in his office and said he would provide clarifications in a week or ten days. He presented authorization to verify he holds no assets outside Spain.
The judge rejected precautionary measures requested by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, such as passport withdrawal, finding no flight risk. Zapatero is the first former head of government to appear as investigated in a corruption case.
