Daughters of former president Zapatero charged with influence peddling in Spain
The National Court has charged the two daughters of former Spanish president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in an investigation into alleged influence peddling involving their father.
Daughters of former president Zapatero charged with influence peddling in Spain
Spain's National Court announced on Thursday that it has charged the two daughters of former government president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in an investigation into the former Socialist leader for alleged influence peddling. The decision came one day after Zapatero himself gave a statement before investigating judge José Luis Calama, according to H24info.
The magistrate adopted this measure at the request of the Anti-Corruption Prosecution, which in a brief filed the previous Tuesday requested that the former head of state's daughters, as well as his secretary, be called as charged defendants. In this way, Alba and Laura Rodríguez Espinosa, daughters of the former executive who governed between 2004 and 2011, will be able to exercise their right to legal defence. The date of their appearance before the court will be set later.
During his statement on Wednesday, Zapatero denied all charges against him. Investigators point to him as the alleged head of a stable, hierarchical structure dedicated to influence peddling, whose aim would have been to obtain bribes channelled through multiple commercial enterprises seemingly set up for that purpose.
According to the National Court, both daughters are listed as administrators of one of these companies, named "Whathefav". The activity of this enterprise appears linked, based on evidence gathered, to the network being investigated, a circumstance that justifies in itself its summons as charged defendants.
The investigation is part of the case known as "Plus Ultra", which examines whether the former president favoured, in exchange for money and using his influence—still considerable a decade after leaving power—a public bailout of 53 million euros for a small airline company during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to influence peddling, Zapatero is also being investigated for alleged tax fraud and smuggling. Numerous jewellery and luxury watches valued at 1.3 million euros were found in a safe in his office. On Wednesday, the former Socialist leader refused to explain to the judge the origin of these items, according to judicial sources.
Spanish media citing people close to the former president have indicated that these jewels would form part of protocol gifts exchanged between official representatives, having been given by the former king of Saudi Arabia to Zapatero's wife during his tenure as head of the Spanish government (2004–2011).
Source: Google News MA — Crime (fr)