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Date Published: 26/05/2026

Spain's former President Zapatero under investigation for corruption

The former head of the government is accused of “influence-peddling” during the bailout of an airline in 2021

Former President of the government of Spain, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, is the subject of a criminal investigation for corruption over his role in the bailing out of airline Plus Ultra in 2021.

Plus Ultra, a minor Spanish airline with links to Venezuela, was bailed out by the government in March of that year to the tune of €53 million after it ran into financial difficulties due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.

Zapatero is under investigation for allegedly facilitating money laundering by the airline between Venezuela, France, Switzerland and Spain.

A judge in Spain’s highest criminal court, the Audiencia Nacional, will look into whether Zapatero orchestrated “a hierarchical structure of influence peddling… to obtain economic benefits through intermediation and the exercise of influence before public bodies in favour of third parties, mainly Plus Ultra.”

As well as Plus Ultra, three other airlines affected by coronavirus received aid from the government: Air Europa, Air Nostrum and Volotea.

While other former and serving Spanish presidents have been called to testify in corruption cases, this is the first time a former President has been placed under criminal investigation.

Zapatero, from the socialist PSOE party, served as President of the country from 2004 to 2011. He is due to appear before the Audiencia Nacional on Tuesday June 2.

The judge in the case has authorised police to search Zapatero’s office as well as those of three other companies.

Zapatero, for his part, has affirmed his innocence and stated his willingness to cooperate with the investigation.

“I’d like to reaffirm that all my public and private activity has always been conducted with absolute respect for the law,” he said, adding he had never carried out “any action” relating to the airline’s bailout.

Zapatero’s denials mirrored comments he made before a senate committee in March, when he stated that he “had never taken any commissions from Plus Ultra”.

However, he acknowledged carrying out consultancy work for his friend Julio Martínez Martínez, a businessman linked to Plus Ultra who was arrested by anti-corruption officers in December last year.

Meanwhile, during an appearance before the same senate committee in February, Plus Ultra president Julio Martínez Sola defended the bailout process, insisting it had fully complied with the law.

“There was no exceptional procedure outside the norm; there was no preferential treatment or undue interference; there was no illicit aid,” he said. “There was a regulated process, with controls, reports, and very strict conditions that have been met. Nobody has given us anything for free.”

Corruption scandals in Spain

Spain’s current PSOE-aligned President, Pedro Sánchez, is also facing a series of corruption allegations involving his family, his party and his administration.

Last month, Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, was charged with embezzlement, influence-peddling, corruption in business dealings and misappropriation of funds.

Sánchez’s brother, David Sánchez, is also facing trial this month on charges of influence-peddling. Both of them deny any wrongdoing, and the prime minister has accused his political and media opponents of smearing and pursuing his family.

In addition, two senior former figures in Sánchez’s government are on trial for alleged corruption: former Minister for Transport José Luis Ábalos, along with his former aide Koldo García and the businessman Víctor de Aldama, are under investigation over irregularities in PPE contracts during Covid.

Aldama confessed to his part in the scheme, and now faces a seven-year sentence. Ábalos and García deny all charges, and if found guilty could serve sentences of 24 years and 19 years, respectively.

The PSOE has released a statement backing Zapatero, describing him as a trailblazer whose “two terms were defined by an ambitious programme to expand rights, equality and social protection” and stating that “the right and the far right have never forgiven him for these advances.”

Meanwhile, the opposition conservative People’s Party (PP) branded Zapatero “Sánchez’s muse” and claimed that “the principle that links Spain’s two most recent socialist prime ministers is corruption… this indecency must end”.

Image: Firnthirith

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