Judge José Luis Calama of the Audiencia Nacional has charged former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero as the alleged leader of an influence-peddling network tied to the 53-million-euro rescue of airline Plus Ultra. Zapatero is summoned to testify on June 2. The former leader denies any improper involvement.
The Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit has searched Zapatero’s Ferraz Street office, his daughters’ firm Whathefav and linked companies. The 85-page judicial order states the network used shell companies and a possible offshore entity in Dubai to channel commissions, including a 1% fee on the rescue.
Zapatero replied in a video that he never conducted any dealings with public administrations regarding the rescue and that all his income has been declared. The government and PSOE have voiced respect for the judiciary and defense of the presumption of innocence.
This marks the first charge against a former Spanish president in democracy for alleged influence peddling and money laundering. The case centers on roughly 490,000 euros paid by Análisis Relevante, owned by his friend Julio Martínez Martínez, to Zapatero for purported consultancy work.
