Former Spanish President Zapatero Charged in Criminal Organization Scandal

In an unprecedented legal development, Spain's Central Court of Instruction No. 4 at the National Court has indicted former Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero on charges of criminal organization, influence peddling, and document forgery. This case is linked to the alleged money laundering surrounding the public bailout of 53 million euros granted to the airline Plus Ultra after the pandemic.

This marks the first occasion in Spanish democratic history that a former head of government faces charges related to corruption. According to El País, Judge José Luis Calama has summoned Zapatero to testify on June 2nd.

Alongside the indictment, officers from the Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) of the National Police conducted a search of Zapatero's office located on Ferraz Street in Madrid. They also searched his daughters' company, 'What the Fav,' the Venezuelan-controlled company Inteligencia Prospectiva S.L., and the legal consultancy Softgestor.

The search of Zapatero's office involved agents from the Technical Operations Intervention Group (GOIT), who specialize in accessing safes and locating hidden compartments. They entered the premises equipped with tool kits.

At the core of this controversy is the consulting firm Análisis Relevante S.L., established in February 2020 by Alicante businessman Julio Martínez Martínez, a personal friend of Zapatero with whom he shared business interests.

This consultancy billed approximately 460,000 euros to Plus Ultra over five years. In turn, Zapatero received approximately 463,000 euros in gross payments for "global consultancy" services.

Zapatero himself has publicly acknowledged receiving over 400,000 euros during this period. He maintains that the work was legitimate consultancy, and all earnings were declared to tax authorities.

The investigation also revealed a contract between Plus Ultra and Julio Martínez, which promised him a 1% commission if the government awarded the full 53 million euro bailout. This document was found on computers seized by UDEF.

Investigators have further requested information from SEPI – the entity that approved the bailout – and the Chinese construction company Aldesa, suggesting possible influence peddling by the former president.

This case traces its roots back to 2024, when the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and UDEF began probing the whereabouts of the bailout funds following information requests from Switzerland and France concerning suspected money laundering in those regions.

On December 11, 2025, UDEF raided Plus Ultra's headquarters and arrested its president, Julio Martínez Sola, and its CEO, Roberto Roselli.

Although an initial court dismissed the case, Judge Calama took over on March 3rd, recognizing broader implications. He has now lifted the secrecy order on the case.

Plus Ultra, with substantial Venezuelan shareholder influence, has been the center of controversy since its rescue in 2021, given its small size and questionable viability before the pandemic.

This news triggered a strong political response in Spain. Miguel Tellado, Secretary-General of the Partido Popular, described the charges as "extremely serious," citing Zapatero as the "chief advisor to Sánchez," and demanded the Prime Minister's response: "The ringleaders of the scheme are starting to fall," he stated.

Santiago Abascal, leader of Vox, argued for a vote of no confidence against Pedro Sánchez, while Verónica Barbero, parliamentary spokesperson for Sumar, expressed skepticism about the charges: "We lack a lot of information," she noted.

The PSOE defended Zapatero's presumption of innocence, suggesting a judicial persecution orchestrated by the right. Montse Mínguez, the party's spokesperson, tweeted: "They won't stop."

Alongside Zapatero, Plus Ultra's president Julio Martínez Sola, CEO Roberto Roselli, company lawyer Santiago Fernández Lena, another Madrid-based lawyer, and Peruvian banker Luis Felipe Baca remain under investigation.