Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who served from 2004 to 2011 and previously led the ruling Socialist Workers’ Party, has been summoned to testify in court as part of an alleged money laundering case involving a foreign airline company.
At the center of the investigation is a €53 million public bailout granted to the Venezuela-linked airline Plus Ultra. Spain’s highest criminal court announced that Zapatero has been called to testify on June 2. The former prime minister has denied the allegations, stating during testimony before the Senate in March, “I did not receive any commission from Plus Ultra.”
Public Support for Airline Under Scrutiny
Plus Ultra, which benefited from a public fund created to support strategic companies during the pandemic, has long been the subject of controversy in Spain. Opposition parties criticized the government over the airline’s financial structure and its alleged ties to Venezuela.
The case marks the first time since Spain’s transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco Franco that a former prime minister has officially become the subject of a judicial investigation.
Pressure Mounts on the Sánchez Government
The conservative People’s Party (PP) demanded an urgent explanation from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez following the development. Opposition spokesman Miguel Tellado said:
“We are not only talking about a former prime minister, but also Sánchez’s most important adviser. The government must immediately provide an explanation.”
The development comes at a time when the Sánchez government is already facing several corruption allegations involving figures close to the administration.
The Zapatero Era and Ongoing Controversies
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero served as Prime Minister of Spain between 2004 and 2011. As leader of the Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), he remained at the center of political debate for years, particularly because of his policies during the economic crisis and his close relations with Venezuela.
In recent years, his name resurfaced in connection with allegations surrounding public financial support granted to the Venezuela-linked airline Plus Ultra. Spanish judicial authorities have now launched an official investigation into the former prime minister on accusations including influence peddling and money laundering.