Zapatero's Judicial Statement
Former President Zapatero Declares Innocence to Judge, Vowing Truth Will Emerge
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero made history on June 17, 2026, becoming the first former Spanish Prime Minister to testify as a formal suspect before the Audiencia Nacional. After a three-hour session before Judge José Luis Calama, Zapatero issued a defiant statement: "Pido confianza, no les decepcionaré. La verdad se abrirá paso" — "I ask for your trust, I will not disappoint you. The truth will prevail" El Periódico.
The investigation centers on two major allegations. First, a €53 million pandemic-era bailout of Plus Ultra airline, which prosecutors say served as a vehicle for laundering Venezuelan capital. Second, the discovery of 80 pieces of jewelry worth €1.3 million in a safe at Zapatero's private Madrid office El Estímulo.
Zapatero Faces Charges Over Plus Ultra Bailout
In January 2021, the Spanish government approved a €53 million rescue package for Plus Ultra through SEPI, the state industrial holding company. Prosecutors allege Zapatero used political influence to secure those funds. They say he led a "stable and hierarchical structure" designed to benefit Venezuelan businessmen Danilo Diazgranados and Rodolfo Reyes in exchange for commissions Vozpópuli.
On June 17, Zapatero answered questions from his own lawyer but refused to respond to questions about the jewelry case. He has submitted what he calls a "voluntary universal authorization," allowing the court to inspect all his global assets. "I have nothing outside of Spain," he declared elDiario.es.
€1.3 Million Jewelry Found in Zapatero's Safe
On May 19, 2026, National Police raided Zapatero's office on Ferraz Street in Madrid. Inside a safe, they found approximately 80 luxury items valued at €1,323,915. None of the pieces had any tax documentation. Judge Calama noted the estimated unpaid duties likely exceed €120,000 — the threshold for criminal tax fraud El Periódico Mediterráneo.
A separate judicial investigation into smuggling and tax fraud linked to the jewelry was opened on June 12. The judge described the "absolute absence of fiscal traceability" as an objective indicator of wrongdoing. The case rests in part on a 186-page report by the UDEF, the National Police financial crimes unit Diario de Mallorca.
Prosecutors Seek Passport Seizure and Travel Ban
Following Zapatero's testimony, the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office requested tough precautionary measures. These include seizing all of Zapatero's passports — including his diplomatic one — and banning him from leaving Spain. If granted, he would also be required to sign in at court every 15 days La Opinión de Murcia.
Legal experts call the move historically significant. A former head of state losing his diplomatic passport would be unprecedented in Spanish democracy. The judge's decision is expected within 48 hours. Zapatero's international mediation work, particularly in Latin America, would be severely curtailed La Provincia.
PSOE Backs Zapatero, Opposition and Allies Demand Answers
The PSOE leadership issued a statement of "absolute trust and support" for Zapatero, citing his presumption of innocence and his legacy as the president who "modernized Spain" El Día. The case puts pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez too — it was his government that approved the Plus Ultra bailout in 2021.
Not everyone on the left stayed quiet. IU coordinator Antonio Maíllo called the details of the case "indignante" — outrageous — and demanded full transparency. Meanwhile, U.S. Department of Homeland Security intelligence reportedly feeds into the probe, with alleged links to Venezuela's CLAP food program and fugitive financier Alex Saab adding a geopolitical dimension La Opinión de Zamora.
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