Zapatero's Rescue Denial
Former President Zapatero denies exercising influence in Plus Ultra rescue amid jewel questions.
Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero testified before the Audiencia Nacional on June 17, 2026, becoming the first ex-PM in Spanish democratic history to appear as a formal suspect. In leaked audio published by Cadena SER, Zapatero flatly denied any wrongdoing: "I have not exercised any influence in the rescue of Plus Ultra... my activity has been according to the law."
The case centers on a controversial €53 million public bailout granted to Plus Ultra airline in 2021 and the discovery of roughly 80 pieces of high-end jewelry and watches — valued at over €1.3 million — found in a hidden safe at Zapatero's private Madrid office during a May 2026 police raid. On the same day the audio leaked, the investigating judge also formally charged Zapatero's two daughters and his personal secretary in the same case, according to La Voz de Galicia.
A €53 Million Bailout and the Influence-Peddling Allegations
In 2021, Spain's state holding company SEPI handed Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas a €53 million rescue under a COVID-era fund for "strategic" companies. Critics immediately questioned the move. Plus Ultra held just 0.1% of the Spanish aviation market. El País reported that judicial documents describe an agreed "commission" of 1% of the rescue amount, funneled through a network of associates close to Zapatero.
Judge José Luis Calama, the investigating magistrate at the Audiencia Nacional, describes Zapatero as the "apex" of a "stable and hierarchical" influence-peddling structure. Businessman Julio Martínez allegedly paid Zapatero over €490,000 in "consulting fees" tied to the airline rescue, according to La Voz de Galicia. The total irregular commissions received by Zapatero's circle are estimated at €1.95 million.
Jewels Worth €1.3 Million Found Hidden in Zapatero's Safe
On May 19, 2026, Spain's economic crimes unit UDEF raided Zapatero's private office on Ferraz Street in Madrid. Inside a hidden safe, officers found approximately 80 items including Omega and Longines watches, Zambia emeralds, and Thailand sapphires. The total estimated value: €1,323,915, according to Infobae.
Zapatero refused to answer questions about the jewelry during his testimony, according to the leaked audio. Judge Calama has opened a separate investigation into the find for "contraband and tax fraud." The Union of Tax Technicians (Gestha) called the discovery a "red flag" for institutional corruption and demanded a €150 cap on gifts to public officials, as reported by La Vanguardia.
Daughters and Secretary Charged as Case Turns into Family Affair
Judge Calama formally imputed Zapatero's daughters, Alba and Laura Rodríguez Espinosa, on June 18, 2026. Their marketing firm, Whathefav, allegedly received around €423,000 in illegal commissions used to "launder and channel" funds from the influence network, according to Brussels Signal. Zapatero's personal secretary, Gertrudis Alcázar, was also charged the same day.
The charges against family members sharply raise the political stakes. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Zapatero's longtime ally, publicly backed him, stating his "request for confidence has the backing of the PSOE," according to El HuffPost. The opposition Partido Popular called the situation "a moral and ethical collapse of the Socialist party."
What Comes Next: Passports, Proof, and a U.S. Connection
The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor has asked the court to confiscate Zapatero's passport, citing flight risk concerns, according to Anadolu Ajansı. Zapatero has been given days to provide a "traceability" report — a legal paper trail — proving the jewelry was legally acquired or inherited. If he cannot, he faces up to six years in prison for tax fraud and contraband.
The case also has an international dimension. U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has been cooperating with Spanish authorities. Phone data extracted from Plus Ultra's majority shareholder contained messages referencing "Zapatero" or "ZP" in connection to securing the 2021 bailout funds, according to Maldita.es. Further revelations tied to Venezuelan money laundering are expected as the investigation widens.
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