Spanish Police Search Zapatero’s Office Amid Expanding Plus Ultra Investigation
Spain’s Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) has carried out a search of an office associated with former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, advancing the ongoing inquiry into the contentious bailout granted to airline Plus Ultra. The move represents a major step forward in the judicial investigation, which is assessing suspected influence peddling and potential criminal conduct connected to the pandemic-era rescue plan.
According to investigators, the search was authorized within the framework of a broader inquiry led by Spain’s National Court into suspected irregularities tied to the allocation of public funds to the airline. Officers reportedly seized documentation and electronic material considered relevant to the case.
The investigation centers on whether political and business leaders may have exerted undue influence to benefit Plus Ultra, which was granted millions of euros in public assistance despite concerns raised at the time about the airline’s financial stability and strategic relevance. Officials are additionally reviewing the involvement of consulting firms and intermediaries reportedly linked to the operation.
Zapatero has rejected any wrongdoing and maintains he never relied on his previous political role to sway government decisions concerning the airline bailout, while the former Socialist leader asserts that his professional actions have always been carried out legally and with full transparency.
The police operation immediately fueled political debate across Spain. Opposition parties intensified their criticism of the government and demanded full clarification regarding the former prime minister’s alleged links to the case. Meanwhile, members of the Socialist Party called for respect for the presumption of innocence while the investigation remains ongoing.
The Plus Ultra affair keeps driving significant political and judicial fallout across Spain, largely due to the prominent individuals now tied to the investigation and the mounting scrutiny over how public funds were handled during the pandemic era.
Source: OKDIARIO – https://okdiario.com/espana/udef-registra-despacho-jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero-plus-ultra-16826260
