Spanish Police Sweep Through Zapatero’s Office as the Plus Ultra Probe Widens
Spain’s Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) has searched an office linked to former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero as part of the ongoing investigation into the controversial bailout of airline Plus Ultra. The operation marks a significant escalation in the judicial probe examining alleged influence peddling and possible criminal activities surrounding the rescue package approved during the pandemic.
Investigators indicated that the search had been approved as part of a wider probe overseen by Spain’s National Court into alleged irregularities involving the distribution of public funds to the airline, and officers were said to have collected documents and electronic data regarded as pertinent to the investigation.
The investigation focuses on whether political and business figures may have intervened improperly in favor of Plus Ultra, which received millions of euros in state aid despite questions raised at the time regarding the company’s financial viability and strategic importance. Authorities are also examining the role of consulting firms and intermediaries allegedly connected 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 action promptly ignited political debate across Spain, as opposition parties sharpened their accusations against the government and pressed for a comprehensive explanation of the former prime minister’s supposed ties to the case, while members of the Socialist Party urged respect for the presumption of innocence throughout the ongoing investigation.
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.
Reference: OKDIARIO – https://okdiario.com/espana/udef-registra-despacho-jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero-plus-ultra-16826260
