MADRID, Spain — Spain’s National Court has formally opened an investigation into former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, of the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE), on charges related to money laundering, criminal organization, influence peddling, and document falsification in connection with the rescue of Plus Ultra, a Venezuelan-capital airline, according to judicial sources and verified media reports.
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The former socialist leader is scheduled to appear before investigating judge José Luis Calama of the National Court on June 2 as a person under investigation. The case, which has been under judicial review since a complaint was filed by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office in 2024, centers on allegations regarding the use of public funds allocated for the airline’s rescue operation.
Judicial investigators have focused on financial movements involving individuals within Zapatero’s circle following analysis of digital devices belonging to Julio Martínez Martínez, an advisor to Plus Ultra. The Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) of the National Police has traced communications and transactions that, according to investigative sources, suggest the establishment of an operational structure potentially designed to launder capital.
The investigation examines whether 53 million euros provided by the State Society for Industrial Participations (SEPI) for the Plus Ultra rescue were used appropriately, or whether funds were diverted to repay loans to other Venezuelan companies not directly connected to the airline’s recovery operation. Authorities suspect a money laundering operation involving individuals from France, Switzerland, and Spain.
As part of the inquiry, judicial authorities have registered offices of companies linked to the alleged scheme, including business premises associated with the former prime minister. For several months, this separate investigative branch has centered on Zapatero and his business relationships, with agents compiling evidence presented to Judge Calama that prompted the formal opening of this procedural segment.
The case gained momentum following the December arrest of Plus Ultra’s president, Julio Martínez Sola, and its chief executive officer, Roberto Roselli. Investigators are now examining whether consulting services billed by Zapatero to Análisis Relevante, a company owned by Julio Martínez Martínez, between 2020 and 2023, were connected to the airline rescue operation that began during that same period.
Zapatero has acknowledged billing nearly half a million euros to Martínez’s company during the specified timeframe but maintains that his professional activities were unrelated to the Plus Ultra rescue and did not involve illegal commissions. Judicial investigators are reviewing the destination of funds received through these consulting arrangements, including financial movements involving close family members.
⭕ @entrammbasaguas explica la imputación de Zapatero por corrupción y la pena de cárcel a la que se enfrenta
— El Debate (@eldebate_com) May 19, 2026
Estos son los motivos por los que la Audiencia Nacional ha imputado por corrupción al expresidente del Gobierno pic.twitter.com/AK54I55elV
Legal analysts note that while Zapatero cannot be charged with prevarication, as he was not holding public office during the period in question, the charges of influence peddling and criminal organization provide the jurisdictional basis for the National Court to oversee the investigation. These charges carry significant legal implications and reflect the seriousness with which authorities are treating the allegations.
The National Court’s involvement in the case underscores its role in adjudicating complex financial crimes with potential transnational dimensions. Spain’s judicial system maintains specialized procedures for investigating allegations involving high-profile political figures, with safeguards designed to ensure procedural fairness while pursuing accountability.
Anti-corruption efforts in Spain have increasingly focused on cross-border financial flows and the use of consulting arrangements that may obscure improper payments. International cooperation with Swiss and French investigative units has contributed to the development of this case, reflecting broader European efforts to combat financial crimes that span multiple jurisdictions.
The investigation continues with judicial authorities examining documentary evidence, financial records, and communications relevant to the allegations. Prosecutors will evaluate all available information to determine whether formal charges beyond the current investigative status are warranted.
Further updates regarding judicial proceedings, evidentiary developments, and any additional investigative actions are expected as the National Court advances its review of this case through established legal protocols.
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Note: This report is based on judicial documents, official statements, and verified media accounts. Legal proceedings remain subject to Spanish judicial protocols and the presumption of innocence. All individuals mentioned in connection with potential criminal activity are presumed innocent until proven guilty through formal judicial proceedings.
Reporting from Madrid. Additional contributions from judicial affairs correspondents and anti-corruption policy analysts.
