The Spanish judiciary unravels corruption allegations surrounding former Prime Minister Zapatero, his daughters and state aid for the airline Plus Ultra in the amount of 53 million euros.
The investigation of former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero for alleged corrupt abuse of influence has also extended to his daughters. This was stated by the specialized National Court (Audiencia Nacional) on Thursday, writes TASR according to the AFP agency.
- Former Prime Minister Zapatero was investigated for corruption and abuse of influence.
- The investigation also extended to his daughters Alba and Laura.
- It is related to the state subsidy for the airline Plus Ultra.
- The police found jewelry and luxury watches with Zapatera without documents.
- Zapatero also faces suspicions of tax fraud and smuggling.
Zapatero led the Spanish government from 2004 to 2011. Last month, he was investigated for suspected abuse of influence in approving a 53 million euro state subsidy in 2021 to rescue the Plus Ultra airline.
Existing evidence suggests that Zapatero led a structure that used “opaque financial channels” to conceal the movement of money and achieve the company’s rescue, Judge José Luis Calama said. Zapatero allegedly accepted two million dollars in bribes for this, which the former prime minister denies.
They are also investigating the secretary
The judge notified Zapatero’s daughters Alba and Laura of the investigation “to allow them to appear in the proceedings as persons under investigation and exercise their right to defence”, the court said. Both ran the marketing agency Whathefav, “whose operations appear to be indirectly connected to the scheme under investigation” by Plus Ultra, justifying their inclusion in the investigation.
The police searched the company’s offices in May, and Zapater’s secretary, Gertrudis Alcazarová, is also under investigation.
The former Spanish prime minister is also being investigated for suspicion of tax fraud and smuggling. During a recent search of his office, the police discovered jewelry and luxury watches with an estimated value of 1.3 million euros in the safe. There are no customs declarations or documents on the payment of import duties for them, and Zapatero cannot reliably prove their legal origin. His associates say they are family heirlooms or gifts. Spanish media reported that he received them from the former monarch of Saudi Arabia.
