Spain: Former President Zapatero appears before judge over influence peddling and money laundering
Former Spanish Government chief José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has appeared before Judge José Luis Calama in the framework of the 'Plus Ultra' case, accused of influence peddling, money laundering and tax fraud.
Spain: Former President Zapatero appears before judge over influence peddling and money laundering
The former leader of the Spanish Executive José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero appeared on Wednesday at the National Court in Madrid to be questioned for the first time as an accused. This is an unprecedented appearance for a former Spanish Government president, according to news agency AFP as cited by Courrier International.
Zapatero, who held the position of Government chief between 2004 and 2011, arrived at the court at approximately 6:50 GMT. Judge José Luis Calama accuses him of heading an alleged structured organisation whose purpose would have been to obtain bribes, something the Socialist politician vehemently denies.
The investigation is part of the so-called "Plus Ultra" case. Investigators are attempting to clarify whether the former leader facilitated, in exchange for money, the 53 million euro public rescue granted to a small airline during the Covid-19 pandemic.
During a search of the former president's residence, officers found abundant jewellery and luxury watches in a safe. His entourage claimed these were family inheritances, but experts valued the collection at 1.3 million euros. The justice system considers that he has been unable to prove the origin of these goods, and was therefore accused late last week of alleged tax fraud and smuggling.
This case is added to others that complicate the situation of the current Executive of Pedro Sánchez. The president's wife, his brother and his former closest collaborator are also being investigated in separate cases. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the People's Party, has described Sánchez as the Government chief "with the most suspicions of corruption in all of Spanish democracy".
Furthermore, the judicial police suspect the existence of an alleged office within the PSOE dedicated to interfering in investigations affecting Sánchez's circle. The president himself has denied having knowledge of this structure.
Source: Google News MA — Crime (fr)