Zapatero avoids jewel questions
Judge Calama questioned former President Zapatero about 'the damn jewels'; he chose not to testify
A leaked audio recording has captured the moment Judge José Luis Calama asked former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero about
Zapatero appeared at the Audiencia Nacional on June 17, 2026, as a formal suspect. He spoke for nearly three hours about the €53 million state rescue of airline Plus Ultra. But when the judge turned to the jewelry, Zapatero went silent. The moment was captured on audio and leaked the following day, sending shockwaves through Spanish politics.
103 Pieces of Jewelry Found in an Office Safe
In May 2026, economic crimes police raided Zapatero's private office on Calle Ferraz in Madrid. They expected to find documents. Instead, they found a safe packed with over 103 luxury items — necklaces, bracelets, and watches — valued at roughly €1.3 million, according to El Español. One necklace alone, featuring diamonds and Zambian emeralds, was valued at €278,000.
The jewelry was not kept at the family home. It sat in a professional office safe, with no customs declarations or paperwork, according to court filings cited by informacion.es. Judge Calama opened a separate criminal investigation on June 12, 2026, for alleged tax fraud and smuggling. Under Spanish law, a tax debt above €120,000 becomes a criminal offense — not just an administrative one.
Zapatero Refuses to Answer the Judge's Direct Question
In the leaked audio, Judge Calama asks clearly: "And now we move to the blessed jewels... Do you wish to testify on this or not?" Zapatero replies: "I do not wish to testify on this." The exchange, reported by elperiodicomediterraneo.com, lasted only seconds. But it has dominated Spanish headlines since the recording surfaced on June 18.
Zapatero's lead attorney, Víctor Moreno Catena, argues the jewelry probe is a "procedural ambush." He claims the items belong to Zapatero's wife, Sonsoles Espinosa, through family inheritance. The defense has promised to deliver supporting documents within ten days. If they fail, Judge Calama may authorize a full audit of the family's banking history, according to laopiniondezamora.es.
Questions Grow Over the Jewelry's True Origin
Police analysts reviewed 20 years of public photos of Sonsoles Espinosa at state dinners and official events. They found no record of her wearing the most expensive pieces — those valued at over €200,000. Zapatero's secretary initially told police the items were family heirlooms. Investigators remain skeptical, noting the safe's location in a political office rather than a private home, according to elcorreogallego.es.
Some lawmakers have openly asked whether the items were gifts from the Kingdom of Morocco. This suspicion ties to Zapatero's past support for Morocco's stance on Western Sahara. Judge Calama is also the lead investigator in the Pegasus spyware case, which allegedly involved Morocco targeting the Spanish government. No formal charge linking the jewelry to Morocco has been filed, but the political pressure is growing, as reported by lne.es.
Political Fallout Splits Spain's Ruling Coalition
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed "solidarity" with Zapatero. PSOE spokespeople accused the court of manipulating its calendar to hurt the party before summer recess. But Sumar, PSOE's junior coalition partner, broke ranks. Sumar called for full transparency on "diplomatic gifts" received by former heads of state, according to levante-emv.com.
Opposition parties moved quickly. The Vox party filed a formal request demanding Spain's tax agency audit Zapatero's returns for the last decade. The PP's Alberto Núñez Feijóo called the jewelry "the crown jewel of socialist corruption." Judge Calama has so far denied a prosecution request to confiscate Zapatero's passport, citing his continued cooperation with the court, according to laopinioncoruna.es.
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